[Does short-term fasting lower the cardiovascular risk in obesity? Effects of the composition of the reducing diet].

Risk factors of atherosclerosis in obese people can be reduced by weight reduction. 40 massively obese patients (Broca 159 +/- 41) were treated with different hypocaloric weight reduction diets. It was tested, if a decrease of risk factors can be induced by a 14 days' treatment period, already, and if the composition of diet influences the results. Weight reduction induced a significant fall of blood pressure and triglycerides (-25%). No differences could be seen between the various diets. The decrease of cholesterol (-12%) was caused by a simultaneous fall of LDL- and protective HDL-cholesterol. These changes were independent from dietary composition, too.