[Influence of starvation and kinesitherapy on blood lipids and their fractions (author's transl)].

In 24 obese patients triglycerides, cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were determined repeatedly during a period of starvation up to 21 days, combined with kinesitherapy. The average loss of body weight was after 10 days 6.4 kg and after 21 days 10.5 kg. While the triglycerides decreased only in the first week significantly, cholesterol decreased highly significant in 21 days from an average of 224 mg/dl to an average of 160 mg/dl. LDL-cholesterol was reduced from the 4th to the 21st day of starvation highly significant to an average of 100 mg/dl. On the other hand HDL-cholesterol decreased only in the first days and showed later a tendency to increase. Therefore the quotient LDL/HDL-cholesterol changed from 3.0 to 2.0. It is discussed that starvation diminishes the atherogenic fractions of cholesterol much more than the fractions which may have a protective effect against coronary heart disease.