Long-term diet-induced, tissue-specific changes in (non)adipose triglyceride stores in obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Results A 16-week VLCD significantly reduced bodyweight, hepatic TG content, visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat and pericardial fat volumes to 78, 16, 40, 55 and 83%, respectively, of baseline values (all p<0.05). After an additional 14 months of follow-up on a regular diet, weight and hepatic TG content increased significantly to 90 and 73% of baseline values (P<0.05). After these 14 months the preferential loss in visceral fat compared to subcutaneous abdominal fat was lost. In contrast, pericardial fat volume remained reduced to the same extent.