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OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of lifestyle intervention on cardiovascular risk factors in general and especially on fibrinolysis. DESIGN: Randomized clinical study. SUBJECTS: A total of 186 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance and obesity. INTERVENTIONS: The intervention programme included a low-fat, high-fibre diet and regular physical exercise. Half of the participants (n = 93) took part in a one-month learning and training session using different behavioural modification techniques and conducted in a full-board wellness centre (intense intervention group). The other half (n = 93) was randomized a one-hour counselling session with a specially trained nurse (usual care group). Follow-up was carried out after 12 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Body weight, oxygen consumption, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) activity, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen, fibrinogen and fasting plasma insulin measured at the start of the programme and at follow-up after 1 year. RESULTS: The intense intervention group had a mean weight decline by 1 year of 5.4 kg compared to 0.5 kg in the usual care group. Oxygen consumption in the intense group increased 10% vs. a 1% decline in the usual care group. In the intense group, PAI-1 activity decreased 31% (-10.1 U mL(-1)), which was significantly more than in the usual care group (12%; -3.0 U mL(-1)). The corresponding reductions in tPA antigen were 14% (-1.65 microg L(-1)) and 6% (-0.69 microg L(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: The present randomized study shows that an intense lifestyle programme has sustained beneficial effects on fibrinolysis.
Lindahl et al. (Thu,) studied this question.