At baseline there were no differenc

At baseline there were no differences among the three
groups, except for weight and HDL-C, suggesting adequate
randomization (Table 1).
Tables 2–4 describe the effect of the respective intervention
on anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, and serum AGE
levels. Table 2 demonstrates that a low AGE diet alone signifi-
cantly diminished weight, BMI, WC, and serum AGEs (both CML
and MG). Table 3 shows that exercise with habitual diet only
diminished weight, BMI, and WC. The combination of a low AGE
diet plus exercise demonstrated significant decrease of weight,
BMI, WC, Tgs, and serum AGEs (CML and MG), while increasing
HDL-C (Table 4).
As expected, both dietary intervention groups showed
significant decreases in dietary AGE intake, expressed in ab-
solute terms and as a fraction of dietary caloric intake. Both
exercise intervention groups with showed improvement of VO 2
max, suggesting aerobic conditioning (Tables 2–4). No adverse
events attributable to the intervention were reported during
the duration of the study. Both changes of CML and MG
correlated with changes in dietary AGEs (r ¼ 0.353, P < 0.020;
r ¼ 0.317, P < 0.038, respectively) and changes in dietary kcal
(r ¼ 0.305, P < 0.047; r ¼ 0.287, P < 0.062, respectively).
Regression analyses including changes in dietary AGEs and
changes in dietary energy intakes showed that changes in di-
etary AGEs were the independent determinants of changes in
CML (P < 0.020) and in MG (P < 0.038). Change in VO 2 max
correlated inversely with changes in weight and changes in TGs
(r ¼ ?0.464, P < 0.002; r ¼ ?0.424, P < 0.005, respectively).
Change in VO 2 max was the independent determinant of
changes in TGs (P < 0.026) in a model including changes in
dietary AGEs, changes in dietary kcal, and changes in weight.
Change in VO 2 max also was the independent determinant of
changes in weight (P < 0.008) in a model including changes in
dietary kcals and changes in dietary AGEs.
ANOVA comparison of the means of the three groups at the
end of the study demonstrated significant changes in means for
dietary AGEs, serum CML, and serum MG in both, dietary inter-
vention groups compared with exercise alone and for VO 2 max in
both exercise groups compared with diet alone.