Obesity is a complex chronic multifactorial disease associated with concomitant or increased risk for chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke and multiple cancer types. Oxidative stress (OS) can cause permanent DNA damage which could be detected with lymphocytes cytokinesis-block micronucleus (L-CBMN) cytome assay. Weight loss and improvement of dietary habits in people with obesity can affect genome stability and have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity, inflammation and OS. Effects of very low calorie diet (VLCD) on DNA damage are scarce. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a three-week VLCD used in Special Hospital for extended treatment of Duga Resa in patients with BMI ≥ 35kg/m2 on permanent DNA damage, lipid profile, insulin resistance, inflammation and anthropometric parameters.
