The effect of caloric restriction with and without n-3 PUFA sup-

Weight loss contributes to increased risk of hip fracture, especially in postmenopausal 16 women. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation could diminish the ad17 verse effect of weight loss on bone health. The aim of this randomized, placebo-controlled, double18 blind parallel trial was to investigate the effect of caloric restriction and n-3 PUFA supplement in19 take on osteogenic markers (carboxylated osteocalcin (Gla-OC); procollagen I N-terminal propep20 tide (PINP)) as well as a bone resorption marker (C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I)) 21 in serum of sixty four middle aged individuals (BMI 25-40 kg/m2) with abdominal obesity. Bone 22 remodeling, metabolic and inflammatory parameters and adipokines were determined before and 23 after 3 months of an isocaloric diet (2300-2400 kcal/day) or a low calorie diet (1200 kcal/d for women 24 and 1500 kcal/d for men) along with n-3 PUFA (1.8 g/d) or placebo capsules. CTX-I and adiponectin 25 concentrations were increased following 7% weight loss independently of supplement use. Changes 26 in CTX-I were positively associated with changes in adiponectin level (rho=0.25, p=0.043). Thus, an 27 increase in serum adiponectin caused by body weight loss could adversely affect bone health. N-3 28 PUFAs were without effect. 29