Table 2.
Changes in study variables after 3-months of intervention.
| MD (n = 18) | EX (n = 11) | MD + EX (n = 12) | p | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body composition and dietary recalls | ||||
| Weight (%) | −7.2 ± 3.6α | −0.6 ± 3.2 | −5.3 ± 2.7α | < 0.0001 |
| Body mass index (%) | −7.5 ± 3.6α | −0.4 ± 3.4 | −6.1 ± 2.9α | < 0.0001 |
| Waist circumference (%) | −7.8 ± 4.5α | −1.9 ± 3.3 | −7.4 ± 3.6α | 0.0009 |
| DEXA-total lean body mass (%) | −2.8 ± 2.8α | −0.1 ± 2.3 | −0.6 ± 2.1 | 0.0153 |
| DEXA-appendicular lean body mass (%) | −3.4 ± 4.4α | 5.8 ± 12.5 | −1.6 ± 2.7 | 0.0070 |
| DEXA–total fat mass (%) | −11.7 ± 13.3 | −3.8 ± 4.7 | −13.5 ± 8.0 | 0.0770 |
| DEXA–trunk fat mass (%) | −14.6 ± 13.8 | −4.0 ± 4.9 | −15.2 ± 8.9 | 0.0317 |
| DEXA–appendicular fat mass (%) | −11.1 ± 10.3α | −2.9 ± 5.3 | −10.2 ± 7.3 | 0.0375 |
| Mediterranean score | 71.5 ± 84.3 | 32.4 ± 64.6 | 69.6 ± 60.4 | 0.3397 |
| Biochemistry | ||||
| Glucose (%) | 1.4 ± 8.1 | −1.5 ± 7.0 | −3.1 ± 4.8 | 0.2224 |
| Insulin (%) | 16.7 ± 76.8 | −2.8 ± 34.9 | −12.8 ± 33.9 | 0.3691 |
| Homa–IR (%) | 21.7 ± 108.5 | 30.6 ± 140 | 5.3 ± 64.5 | 0.8474 |
| Total cholesterol (%) | −0.6 ± 18.8 | −1.1 ± 19.3 | −6.1 ± 8.5 | 0.6472 |
| HDL cholesterol (%) | 2.5 ± 16.4 | 3.4 ± 15.6 | 0.4 ± 10.6 | 0.8830 |
| LDL cholesterol (%) | 15.8 ± 54 | 2.2 ± 53.0 | 12.6 ± 43.2 | 0.7816 |
| Tryglicerydes (%) | 2.2 ± 67.1 | −4.3 ± 36.2 | −1.6 ± 34.4 | 0.9456 |
| Muscle strength, ultrasound, and CT scans | ||||
| Right-hand strength (%) | 1.6 ± 19.8 | 1.9 ± 6.6 | 6.3 ± 11.5 | 0.6789 |
| Left-hand strength (%) | 6.9 ± 17.1 | 7.0 ± 22.9 | 3.2 ± 22.8 | 0.8689 |
| Right quadriceps strength (%) | 5.0 ± 16.2 | 7.4 ± 21.2 | 3.8 ± 27.3 | 0.9224 |
| Left quadriceps strength (%) | −0.8 ± 11.4 | 6.1 ± 17.1 | 1.0 ± 16.5 | 0.4871 |
| US–right RFM area (%) | 5.2 ± 14.0 | 10.6 ± 12.0 | 6.9 ± 9.4 | 0.5239 |
| US–left RFM area (%) | 3.1 ± 13.7 | 7.9 ± 9.6 | 7.9 ± 10.5 | 0.4503 |
| CT–left RFM area (%) | −0.1 ± 12.5 | 4.6 ± 9.9 | 5.5 ± 14.4 | 0.4338 |
| CT–left RFM.DENSITY (%) | 2.2 ± 5.2 | −1.1 ± 6.2 | 1.2 ± 7.6 | 0.4428 |
| CT–Hepatic density (%) | 25.0 ± 45.9 | 1.8 ± 15.6 | 17.4 ± 44.4 | 0.3508 |
| CT–total abdominal fat area (%) | −18.1 ± 13.7α | −4.1 ± 6.7 | −15.4 ± 13.6 | 0.0215 |
| CT–abdominal visceral fat area (%) | −15.5 ± 25.0 | 1.7 ± 15.7 | −12.5 ± 28.2 | 0.1969 |
| CT–abdominal subcutaneous fat area (%) | −18.0 ± 13.0α | −6.9 ± 6.2 | −15.8 ± 10.6 | 0.0432 |
| Exercise tests | ||||
| VO2 peak (%) | 8.2 ± 28.4 | 20.0 ± 32.3 | 24.6 ± 29.9 | 0.3110 |
| Maximal load (%) | 9.9 ± 37.0 | 14.9 ± 24.4 | 22.3 ± 26.8 | 0.5939 |
| Exercise time (%) | 8.6 ± 43.8 | 13.6 ± 41.4 | 9.3 ± 26.5 | 0.9435 |
| Gross work efficiency (%) | 1.5 ± 21.9 | −5.6 ± 30.4 | 6.7 ± 27.8 | 0.5328 |
| Activity energy expenditure (%) | 11.9 ± 35.6 | −4.3 ± 52.5 | 20.9 ± 45.4 | 0.5466 |
| Physical activity level (%) | 3.5 ± 7.6 | 0.9 ± 22.2 | 4.1 ± 14.8 | 0.8744 |
DEXA, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry / RFM, rectus femoris muscle/CT, computed tomography/US, ultrasound/W, watts/J, joules. Values represent % change from baseline (means ± SD), analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Significant when p < 0.05–for post-hoc analysis, α = significantly different from EX Group.