Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2007
1. Fifteen ‘constitutionally’ obese subjects, eleven hyperlipidaemic subjects of mixed-type and fourteen normal subjects were studied.
2. With a reduction in energy intake (range 3.3–4.2 MJ) for 21 d, there was no change in the levels of plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) of obese subjects, but the free fatty acid levels increased. However, in hyperlipidaemic subjects there was a reduction in levels of TC and TG with no increase in levels of free fatty acids.
3. There was a significant increase in the serum ketone levels of obese subjects but not in those of hyperlipidaemic subjects. The reduction of the respiratory quotient to a value of 0.7 was more rapid in the obese than in hyperlipidaemic subjects.
4. After administration of a fat load (0.5 g/kg gross body-weight) there was no change in plasma TG levels in obese subjects but there was an increase in those of normal subjects.
5. After administration of a glucose load (1 g/kg ideal body-weight) there was a significant reduction in plasma TG levels in obese subjects but no change in those of hyperlipidaemic subjects.
6. Hyperlipidaemic subjects eating their normal diet were found to have a hydroxybutyrate: acetoacetate ratio three- to fivefold that of obese and normal subjects.
7. These results suggest that obese subjects have an increased ability to store fatty acids, to mobilize them quickly and to generate fatty acid metabolites in the form of ketone bodies, while these same metabolic functions are reduced in hyperlipidaemic subjects.