Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Nutr.
Sec. Clinical Nutrition
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1370737

Effectiveness of a Protein-Supplemented Very-Low-Calorie Diet Program for Weight Loss: A Randomized Controlled Trial in South Korea

Provisionally accepted
Eunbyul Cho Eunbyul Cho 1Sohye Kim Sohye Kim 1*Hwa J. Kim Hwa J. Kim 2*Belong Cho Belong Cho 3*Jin H. Park Jin H. Park 3*Hyuktae Kwon Hyuktae Kwon 3Ju Young Kim Ju Young Kim 4Yumi Go Yumi Go 4*Dong G. Kang Dong G. Kang 4*Eunyoung Shin Eunyoung Shin 1Sumi Lee Sumi Lee 1*Siye Gil Siye Gil 1*Hyerim Kim Hyerim Kim 1*Jihyun Ahn Jihyun Ahn 5*Joo Y. Kim Joo Y. Kim 6*Wonjoo Jung Wonjoo Jung 3*Eunyoung Go Eunyoung Go 3*
  • 1 Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
  • 2 Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 3 Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 4 Bionutrion, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 5 Uahn Clinic, seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 6 Lohas Medi, Asan-si, Republic of Korea

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Weight-loss strategies through meal replacements are effective and sustainable options. However, few studies have assessed their effects on weight loss including body composition through proteinsupplemented meal replacements targeting the Asian population, including Koreans. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of a protein-supplemented very-low-calorie diet (PSVLCD) for weight reduction and changes in body composition in individuals with obesity over a 12-month long-term period. In total, 106 participants with obesity were randomly assigned to a PSVLCD or control group (food-based calorie-restricted diet). Body weight, waist circumference, body composition, and blood marker levels were measured throughout the study. Statistical analyses were performed to compare outcomes between the groups. Among the 106 participants, 84 completed the 12-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat analysis showed that the mean weight loss from baseline to 12 months was -6.86 kg (8.21% of baseline weight) in the PSVLCD group and -4.66 kg (5.47% of initial body weight) in the control group; the difference was -2.20 kg with a marginally significant interval (95% confidence interval [CI], -4.90; 0.50). Waist circumference (-8.35 cm vs. -4.85 cm; mean difference, -3.49 cm; 95% CI, -6.48 to -0.50) and visceral fat area (-28.28 cm 2 vs -13.26 cm 2 ; mean difference, -15.03cm 2 ; 95% CI, -29.01 to -1.04) also significantly decreased in the PSVLCD group at 12 months. In summary, in the PSVLCD group, a considerable initial reduction in waist circumference was sustained throughout the study period, with a marginally significant decrease in weight.

    Keywords: High-protein diet, very-low-calorie diets, meal replacement, Obesity, waist circumference Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04597788

    Received: 15 Jan 2024; Accepted: 02 Sep 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Cho, Kim, Kim, Cho, Park, Kwon, Kim, Go, Kang, Shin, Lee, Gil, Kim, Ahn, Kim, Jung and Go. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Sohye Kim, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
    Hwa J. Kim, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Seoul, Republic of Korea
    Belong Cho, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
    Jin H. Park, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
    Yumi Go, Bionutrion, Seoul, Republic of Korea
    Dong G. Kang, Bionutrion, Seoul, Republic of Korea
    Sumi Lee, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
    Siye Gil, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
    Hyerim Kim, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam-si, Republic of Korea
    Jihyun Ahn, Uahn Clinic, seoul, Republic of Korea
    Joo Y. Kim, Lohas Medi, Asan-si, Republic of Korea
    Wonjoo Jung, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
    Eunyoung Go, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.