[Results of protein-sparing modified fasting in hyperlipoproteinemias]

We investigated the influence of a PSMF on body weight, body composition, blood lipids, physical working capacity, and nitrogen balance in obese HLP patients. During 4 weeks, 12 patients were treated by PSMF (approximately 340 kcal/d) under health resort conditions. At the same time, they daily exercised on a bicycle with an intensity of 80% of their physical working capacity estimated by an exercise load. The therapeutic regimen induced a significant weight loss (10.1 kg in the mean). Evidently, the patients diminished their body fat only as could be shown by estimations of total body water. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol also decreased significantly, while HDL-cholesterol remained unchanged. In spite of the weight reduction, the physical working capacity significantly increased from 57.8 to 93.2 kgm. Measurements of total nitrogen excretion with urine gave evidence of the protein saving effect of the therapy. Thus, PSMF--representing an effective therapeutic procedure--can be recommended to be used in obese HLP patients, proceeded that contraindications have been taken into consideration carefully.