Lambert EA, et al. - This study compared the benefits of a centrally acting sympatholytic agent, a weight loss (WL) program using a low-calorie diet, and a combination of both, on the metabolic and cardiovascular health of study participants. In young males with overweight, the aspects of the metabolic profile and end organ damage were benefitted by a combination of moxonidine with a WL program.

Methods

• In this study, researchers allocated young (18-30 years) male subjects with overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m²) to a WL program (n = 10), a moxonidine treatment course (M; n = 10, 0.4 mg/d), a combination of both (WL + M; n = 11), or to a control (C) group (n = 6) for 6 months.
• They assessed muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), endothelial function, renal function (Cockcroft-Gault formula), and the metabolic profile before and after intervention.

Results

• Findings showed that WL occurred in the WL and WL + M groups (-7.6 ± 1.9 kg, P <0.001 in both).
• Researchers observed that MSNA and systolic blood pressure decreased similarly in the WL, M, and WL + M groups (by ~10 bursts/min, P < 0.001, and by ~9 mm Hg,P < 0.05).
• They also noted that all other parameters for the WL, C, and M groups remained unchanged.
• As per data, in the WL + M group, decreased total cholesterol (-0.78 ± 0.23 mmol/L, P < 0.001), decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.49 ± 0.16 mmol/L, P < 0.01), decreased insulin (-6.5 ± 2.8 mmol/L, P < 0.05), and attenuated glomerular hyperfiltration (-19 ± 5 mL/min, P < 0.01) occurred.