Effects of exercise and high carbohydrate and high protein diets on women with and without metabolic syndrome (MS)

396 sedentary women (46±11 yrs, 163±7 cm; 92±18 kg; 45±4% fat) participated in the Curves® circuit training (3 d/wk) and weight loss program (1,200 kcal/d for 1‐wk; 1,600 kcal/d for 9‐wks that was 30% fat with 55% CHO in a HC group and 50–63% protein in a HP group) for 10‐wks. Subjects were divided into those with less than (n=218) or more than (n=178) 3 NCEP‐ATP III criteria for MS. Data were analyzed by MANOVA with repeated measures and are presented as means ± SD percent changes from baseline for the non‐MS and MS groups, respectively. Subjects with MS experienced significantly greater changes in fasting glucose (1.2±17; −3.0±15 %, p=0.016), TG (4.2±40; −8.7±30 %, p=0.001), SBP (−0.5±10; −4.3±12 %, p=0.001), and DBP (−1.2±12; −4.1±13 %, p=0.02). Although time effects were observerd, no differences were seen between groups in weight loss (−3.7±3.6; −4.0±3.6 %, p=0.40), fat loss (−6.5±6.7; −7.0±6.4 %, p=0.64), waist circumference (−3.1±6.0; −2.5±5.5 %, p=0.46), total CHL (−5.7±18; −5.3±19 %, p=0.75), or HDL (−3.8±20; −1.8±18 %, p=0.23). Subjects in the HP group tended to lose more weight (p=0.10) and had a greater reduction in TG (p=0.004). No time x MS x diet interactions were observed. Results revealed that exercise and diet promoted favorable changes in markers of MS; individuals with MS may experience greater benefits; and, a HP diet may promote greater reductions in TG levels.