Excessive myocardial triglyceride (MTG) content in obesity and type 2 diabetes is associated with impaired cardiac function. This study was conducted to assess influences of moderate dietary weight loss in non-diabetic obese and overweight women on MTG content and cardiac function. A subgroup of 38 women was selected from the B-SMART study population that compared weight loss and associated metabolic and cardiovascular markers with reduced-carbohydrate and reducedfat hypocaloric diets. An average weight reduction of 5.4±4.3kg at six months was associated with a relative decrease of MTG of 25% and the response was similar with carbohydrate and fat restriction. Diastolic function expressed as ratio of peak filling rate in E- and A-Phase (PFR(E)/PFR(A)) was unchanged. Reductions of left atrial size (P = 0.002), the normalized ratio of PFR(E) and early diastolic lengthening velocity PLV (P < 0.001), and fat free mass (P = 0.007) reflected altered cardiac volume loading after diet, but did not correlate to MTG content. Therefore, moderate dietary weight loss reduced MTG content in women with uncomplicated overweight or obesity but dietary macronutrient composition did not affect the extent of MTG reduction. Int J Cardiol. 2012 Apr 9. PMID: 22494864
