Study N Number of males Intervention Duration of VLCD Total duration of intervention Weight at baseline (Kg) Weight at end of VLCD(Kg) Weight at end of study (Kg) HDL at baseline (mmol/L) HDL at end of VLCD (mmol/L) HDL at end of study (mmol/L) Apfelbaum et al. [25 ] 78 18 220–800 kcal/d followed by maintenance (hypocaloric balanced diet + placebo). 4 (± 1 week) >12 month (4 ± 1 week of VLCD followed by 12 month double-blind treatment phase). 105.1 (20.3) 97.7 (19.7)* Δ 0.5 (5.7)† — — Δ 0.09 (0.08) Apfelbaum et al. [25 ] 82 15 220–800 kcal/d followed by maintenance (hypocaloric balanced diet + sibutramine). 4 (± 1 week) >12 month (4 ± 1 week of VLCD followed by 12 month double-blind treatment phase). 103.4 (17.5) 95.7 (16.9)* Δ −5.2 (7.5)*† — — Δ 0.13 (0.09)* Christiansen et al. [17 ] 29 15 600 kcal/d followed by maintenance (hypocaloric balanced diet). 8 week 12 weeks (8 weeks of VLCD followed by 4 weeks of maintenance). 107.8 (12) Δ −11.2 kg* 95.5 (11)* 1.2 (0.3) — 1.2 (0.3) Christiansen et al. [17 ] 25 13 800 kcal/d + exercise followed by maintenance (hypocaloric balanced diet + exercise). 8 week 12 weeks (8 weeks of VLCD followed by 4 weeks of maintenance). Exercise was performed over the 12 weeks. 105.8 (15) Δ −12.1 kg* 93.5 (13)* 1.2 (0.3) — 1.3 (0.3)* Delbridge et al. [27 ] 70 35 ~500–550 kcal/d followed by maintenance (high-carbohydrate diet). 12 weeks 15 months (12 weeks VLCD; 12 months maintenance). 109.4 (2.6) Δ −17.6 (0.8)* Δ −14.3 (2.0)* (
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) Delbridge et al. [27 ] 71 35 ~500–550 kcal/d followed by maintenance (high-protein diet). 12 weeks 15 months (12 weeks VLCD; 12 months maintenance). 114.0 (3.0) Δ −17.4 (0.7)* Δ −14.8 (0.5)*
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Erondu et al. [23 ] 176 32 800 kcal/d followed by weight maintenance (hypocaloric diet + placebo). 6 weeks 58 weeks (6 weeks VLCD followed by 52 weeks maintenance). 101.5 (15.3) 92.3 (13.9)* 95.6 (15.7)* 1.45 (0.34) 1.26 (0.25) 1.48 (0.37) Erondu et al. [23 ] 181 37 800 kcal/d followed by weight maintenance (hypocaloric diet + MK-0557). 6 weeks 58 weeks (6 weeks VLCD followed by 52 weeks maintenance). 98.4 (13.8) 89.5 (12.7)* 91.1 (14.5)* 1.41 (0.36) 1.22 (0.29) 1.48 (0.40) Fogelholm et al. [18 ] 28 0 1 week LCD + 8 weeks VLCD + 3 weeks LCD. No increase in exercise. 8 weeks 12 weeks weight loss + 40 weeks no increased exercise + 2 year followup. 92.0 (9.8) 80.0 (9.5)* 89.7 (9.6)
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Fogelholm et al. [18 ] 25 0 Same weight loss intervention as above + walking program targeted to expend 4.2 MJ/wk. 8 weeks 12 weeks weight loss + 40 weeks walking program (1) + 2 year followup. 92.0 (9.8) 78.0 (8.8)* 83.9 (12.2) (
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) 1.22 (0.24) 1.12 (0.27) 1.42 (0.35) (
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) Fogelholm et al. [18 ] 27 0 Same weight loss intervention as above + walking program targeted to expend 8.4 MJ/wk. 8 weeks 12 weeks weight loss + 40 weeks walking program (2) + 2 year followup. 92.0 (9.8) 78.2 (11.6)* 87.4 (15.3) (
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) Haugaard et al. [28 ] 9 2 600–800 kcal/d followed by weight maintenance (hypocaloric balanced diet). 8 weeks 32 weeks (8 weeks VLCD + 24 weeks weight maintenance). 104.5 94.7 (SE: 4.0)* 93.5 (SE: 4.9)* 1.4 1.2 (0.1)* 1.4 (0.1) Heinonen et al. [24 ] 35 19 800 kcal/d followed by weight maintenance (hypocaloric balanced diet + placebo or Orlistat). 8 weeks 8 months (8 weeks VLCD + 6 months weight maintenance). 101.7 (2.0) 86.9 (1.7)* 86.6 (1.8)* 1.17 (0.04) 1.25 (0.04)* 1.23 (0.05)* Paisey et al. [26 ] 15 6 Type 2 diabetic patients 450 kcal/d for women or 650 kcal/d for men. 6 weeks >5 years (6 week VLCD and 5 year followup). — — — 1.20 (0.39) — 1.26 (0.47) Pekkarinen et al. [20 ] 29 0 429 kcal/d followed by weight maintenance (refeeding to low-energy food). The programme included 12 sessions of behaviour methods for weight control. 8 week 52 week (8 week VLCD + 9 weeks refeeding and followup at week 52). 96.1 (10.9) Δ −12.4 (3.3)* Δ −10.7 (7.6)* (
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) Richelsen et al. [22 ] 156 76 600–800 kcal/d followed by weight maintenance (hypocaloric balanced diet + Placebo). 8 weeks 38 months (8 weeks VLCD + 36 months placebo and hypocaloric diet). 111.9 (16.0) Δ −14.3 * Δ −7.2 * 1.15 (0.26) Δ −0.07* Δ 0.06* Richelsen et al. [22 ] 153 76 600–800 kcal/d followed by weight maintenance (hypocaloric balanced diet + Orlistat). 8 weeks 38 months (8 weeks VLCD + 36 months Orlistat and hypocaloric diet). 110.7 (17.9) Δ −14.5* Δ −9.4* 1.13 (0.26) Δ −0.05* Δ 0.04* Rolland et al. [19 ] 14 5 ~550 kcal/d + behaviour therapy followed by weight maintenance (refeeding, balanced diet and behaviour therapy. Average 6.9 months 9 months (12 weeks–9 months of VLCD followed by maintenance). 129.6 (23.0) 109.1 (14.6)* 109.1 (14.6)* 1.29 (0.19) 1.47 (0.23)* 1.47 (0.23)* Wing et. [21 ] 17 4 LCD (1000 to 1500 kcal/d depending on initial body weight) followed by a VLCD (400 kcal/d) followed by weight maintenance (refeeding to hypocaloric diet) + BT (for duration of the study) 8 weeks 72 weeks (1 month LCD followed by 2 months of VLCD, followed by refeeding for 8 weeks and a followup after 52 weeks). 102.1 (11.7) 83.5 (9.5)* 93.5 (10.4)* 1.11 (2.3) 1.26 (0.30)* 1.33 (0.25)*