Diet and exercise intervention, with special reference to micronutrients, reduces cardiometabolic risk in overweight children

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of lifestyle intervention in the presence of multivitamin-zinc supplementation in improving the cardiometabolic status of overweight children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were evaluated in 74 overweight children (11.3 ± 2.9 years) randomly assigned to three groups of intervention for 4 months as follows: group A: diet-exercise counseling with multivitamin-zinc supplementation; group B: diet-exercise counseling; and group C: placebo. Anthropometric, biochemical, carotid arterial and lifestyle parameters were assessed. RESULTS: Lifestyle counseling resulted in significant reduction in inactivity, energy and fat intakes and increase in micronutrient density of diets and physical activity in groups A and B in comparison to group C. Percent decline in body fat was more in group A than in groups B and C. Percent change in triglycerides (–13.7%) was significantly higher in group A than in groups B (–5.9%) and C (5.7%). Pulse wave velocity and elasticity modulus reduced and arterial compliance improved significantly in group A than in group B. CONCLUSION: Multivitamin-zinc supplementation with lifestyle intervention has a positive effect of on the cardiometabolic status of overweight children.