Low Carb Research
I thought it would be a good idea to collect links to low carb research papers and put it here all on the one page categorised so it is easy to find things with a glance when needed. I have included a short quote from the papers just to give you a gist of what its about. If you see any that are not listed here whether it is old or brand new, please share. We have a low carb research section: Low Carb Research just for links to and discussion of low carb papers, it would be great if you could add it there in it's own thread and I will add it to this page.
Thanks :)
This is still very incomplete, I have heaps and heaps more to add. I decided to upload this page incase anyone has any feedback for me whilst I put this together.
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Autism
Application of a Ketogenic Diet in Children With Autistic Behavior: Pilot Study
"Although these data are very preliminary, there is some evidence that the ketogenic diet may be used in autistic behavior as an additional or alternative therapy. "
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Bone Turnover
The Effect of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet on Bone Turnover
"Although the patients on the low-carbohydrate diet did lose significantly more weight than the controls did, the diet did not increase bone turnover markers compared with controls at any time point. Further, there was no significant change in the bone turnover ratio compared with controls."
Protein consumption is an important predictor of lower limb bone mass in elderly women
"These data suggest that protein intakes for elderly women above current recommendations may be necessary to optimize bone mass."
Dietary Protein: An Essential Nutrient For Bone Health
"Consequently, dietary proteins are as essential as calcium and vitamin D for bone health and osteoporosis prevention. Furthermore, there is no consistent evidence for superiority of vegetal over animal proteins on calcium metabolism, bone loss prevention and risk reduction of fragility fractures."
Dietary protein, calcium metabolism, and skeletal homeostasis revisited
"Dietary protein intakes at and below 0.8 g/kg were associated with a probable reduction in intestinal calcium absorption sufficient to cause secondary hyperparathyroidism. The long-term consequences of these low-protein diet–induced changes in mineral metabolism are not known, but the diet could be detrimental to skeletal health. Of concern are several recent epidemiologic studies that demonstrate reduced bone density and increased rates of bone loss in individuals habitually consuming low-protein diets. Studies are needed to determine whether low protein intakes directly affect rates of bone resorption, bone formation, or both."
Low Protein Intake: The Impact on Calcium and Bone Homeostasis in Humans
"The highest protein diet resulted in hypercalciuria with no change in serum parathyroid hormone. Surprisingly, within 4 d, the low protein diet induced secondary hyperparathyroidism that persisted for 2 wk. The secondary hyperparathyroidism induced by the low protein diet was attributed to a reduction in intestinal calcium absorption (as assessed by dual stable calcium isotopes). The long-term consequences of these low protein–induced changes in calcium metabolism are not known, but they could be detrimental to skeletal health. Several recent epidemiological studies demonstrate reduced bone density and increased rates of bone loss in individuals habitually consuming low protein diets."
Further studies of the effect of a high protein diet as meat on calcium metabolism
"During the long-term high meat intake and during the short- term high meat studies, there was no significant change of the urinary or fecal calcium nor of the calcium balance. There was also no significant change of the intestinal absorption of calcium during the high meat intake. These long- and short-term studies have confirmed our previous results that a high protein intake, given as meat, does not lead to hypercalciuria and does not induce calcium loss."
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Cancer
The calorically restricted ketogenic diet, an effective alternative therapy for malignant brain cancer
We found that KetoCal®, a nutritionally balanced and commercially available ketogenic diet for children with epilepsy, significantly reduced the orthotopic growth and the vascularity of the mouse astrocytoma (CT-2A) and the human glioma (U87). Moreover, KetoCal® significantly prolonged survival in the tumor-bearing mice. It is important to mention that the anti-angiogenic and growth inhibitory effects of KetoCal® were observed only when the diet was administered in restricted amounts but were not seen when the diet was administered ad libitum, or in unrestricted amounts.
Targeting energy metabolism in brain cancer: review and hypothesis
"In contrast to malignant brain tumors that are largely dependent on glycolysis for energy, normal neurons and glia readily transition to ketone bodies (ß-hydroxybutyrate) for energy in vivo when glucose levels are reduced. The bioenergetic transition from glucose to ketone bodies metabolically targets brain tumors through integrated anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and pro-apoptotic mechanisms. The approach focuses more on the genomic flexibility of normal cells than on the genomic defects of tumor cells and is supported from recent studies in orthotopic mouse brain tumor models and in human pediatric astrocytoma treated with dietary energy restriction and the ketogenic diet."
Effects of a ketogenic diet on tumor metabolism and nutritional status in pediatric oncology patients: two case reports
"Within 7 days of initiating the ketogenic diet, blood glucose levels declined to low-normal levels and blood ketones were elevated twenty to thirty fold. Results of PET scans indicated a 21.8% average decrease in glucose uptake at the tumor site in both subjects. One patient exhibited significant clinical improvements in mood and new skill development during the study. She continued the ketogenic diet for an additional twelve months, remaining free of disease progression."
Effect of insulin on weight loss and tumour growth in a cachexia model.
"These results suggest that a ketogenic diet is more effective than insulin administration in reversing the cachectic process and has the advantage of a concomitant reduction in tumour weight."
Low Carb Diet and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Long-term consumption of a carbohydrate-restricted diet does not induce deleterious metabolic effects.
"These results indicate that long-term (>1 year) compliance with a low-CHO high-fat "optimal diet" does not induce deleterious metabolic effects and does not increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, as evidenced by maintenance of adequate glycemic control and relatively low values for conventional cardiovascular risk factors."
Effects of weight loss from a very-low-carbohydrate diet on endothelial function and markers of cardiovascular disease risk in subjects with abdominal obesity
"An LC does not impair FMD. We observed beneficial effects of both diets on most of the CVD risk factors measured. "
Restoration of coronary endothelial function in obese Zucker rats by a low-carbohydrate diet
" In conclusion, obesity-induced impairment in endothelium-dependent vasodilation of coronary arterioles can be dramatically improved with a low-carbohydrate diet most likely through the production of a hyperpolarizing factor independent of NO."
Long term effects of ketogenic diet in obese subjects with high cholesterol level
"The body weight and body mass index of both groups decreased significantly (P < 0.0001). The level of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose level decreased significantly (P < 0.0001), whereas HDL cholesterol increased significantly (P < 0.0001) after the treatment in both groups."
Effects of a carbohydrate-restricted diet on emerging plasma markers for cardiovascular disease
"An important finding was that carbohydrate restriction resulted in a spontaneous decrease in caloric intake and subsequent weight loss and improvement in several risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the majority of subjects. Thus, it can be concluded that a diet approach based on carbohydrate restriction provides an acceptable and effective model diet to combat obesity and related metabolic disorders."
Low Carbohydrate Diets Improve Atherogenic Dyslipidemia Even in the Absence of Weight Loss
"A recent report of Krauss et al. (AJCN, 2006) separates the effects of weight loss and carbohydrate restriction. They clearly confirm that carbohydrate restriction leads to an improvement in atherogenic lipid states in the absence of weight loss or in the presence of higher saturated fat. In distinction, low fat diets seem to require weight loss for effective improvement in atherogenic dyslipidemia."
Comparison of isocaloric very low carbohydrate/high saturated fat and high carbohydrate/low saturated fat diets on body composition and cardiovascular risk
"Isocaloric VLCARB results in similar fat loss than diets low in saturated fat, but are more effective in improving triacylglycerols, HDL-C, fasting and post prandial glucose and insulin concentrations. VLCARB may be useful in the short-term management of subjects with insulin resistance and hypertriacylglycerolemia."
Cardiovascular and Hormonal Aspects of Very-Low-Carbohydrate Ketogenic Diets (Review)
"Our work over the last 5 years has indicated that short-term VLCKDs are associated with improvements in a number of cardiovascular disease risk factors, in particular, those associated with the metabolic syndrome. These have included favorable affects on whole body and central fat loss, fasting and postprandial TAGs, HDL-C, LDL-C subclass distribution, and insulin resistance, suggesting that carbohydrate restriction could be a viable approach for preventing and treating the metabolic syndrome. We are currently pursuing the effects of VLCKDs on many standard and novel risk factors for cardiovascular disease in men and women with the metabolic syndrome in our laboratory."
Long-term effects of a ketogenic diet in obese patients
"The present study shows the beneficial effects of a long-term ketogenic diet. It significantly reduced the body weight and body mass index of the patients. Furthermore, it decreased the level of triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and blood glucose, and increased the level of HDL cholesterol. Administering a ketogenic diet for a relatively longer period of time did not produce any significant side effects in the patients. Therefore, the present study confirms that it is safe to use a ketogenic diet for a longer period of time than previously demonstrated."
A low-carbohydrate diet in overweight patients undergoing stable statin therapy raises high-density lipoprotein and lowers triglycerides substantially
"The 38 patients were followed for a average of 11.8 months (range 6-22 months). Average body mass index declined from 33.5 kg/m2 before to 27.9 kg/m2 at the end of the study. Weight loss averaged 31 lbs (range 16-107 lbs). Triglyceride levels were lowered by 29.5%, HDL raised by 17.6%, and cholesterol decreased by 8.4%. The cholesterol/ HDL ratio changed from 5.31 to 3.78 and LDL cholesterol decreased by 5%."
A Randomized Trial of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet for Obesity
"In contrast, the low-carbohydrate diet was associated with greater decreases in serum triglycerides and greater increases in HDL cholesterol than was the conventional diet, and the levels of both are also important risk factors for coronary heart disease.31,32,33 The magnitude of these changes approximates that obtained with pharmacologic treatments, such as derivatives of fibric acid and niacin.31 Although part of this benefit may be due to the greater weight loss with the low-carbohydrate diet, the changes are greater than those expected from a moderate weight loss alone.30 Therefore, it is likely that the macronutrient composition of the diet contributed to the improvement in the HDL cholesterol–triglyceride axis. High-carbohydrate, low-fat diets decrease HDL cholesterol concentrations and increase serum triglyceride concentrations,34,35,36,37 whereas low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets decrease triglyceride concentrations16,27,37 and increase HDL cholesterol concentrations.15 Moreover, replacing dietary polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat with carbohydrate is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, as predicted by changes in triglyceride and HDL cholesterol concentrations.38"
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Childhood Obesity
Low-carbohydrate (low & high-fat) versus high-carbohydrate low-fat diets in the treatment of obesity in adolescents
"The significant drop in insulin level and HOMA in the low carbohydrate diet groups is noteworthy given the increasing frequency of type-2 diabetes as part of metabolic syndrome in children and youth."
Unlimited Energy, Restricted Carbohydrate Diet Improves Lipid Parameters in Obese Children
"We have demonstrated a significant decrease in total cholesterol and triglycerides
in elementary school–aged children after 10 weeks of a restricted-carbohydrate, unlimited
protein, and unlimited energy diet. We suggest that this diet may decrease cardiovascular
risk factors in obese children. Long-term studies will be needed to substantiate these
data."
Effect of Low-Carbohydrate, Unlimited Calorie Diet on the Treatment of Childhood Obesity: A Prospective Controlled Study
"A high protein, low carbohydrate, unlimited calorie diet was superior to a restricted calorie protocol for weight loss in obese school age children; moreover, compliance was better."
Low Carbohydrate Diets & Diabetes
The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus
"The LCKD group had greater improvements in hemoglobin A1c (-1.5% vs. -0.5%, p=0.03),
body weight (-11.1 kg vs. -6.9 kg, p=0.008), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (+5.6 mg/dL vs. 0 mg/dL, p<0.001) compared to the LGID group. Diabetes medications were reduced or eliminated in 95.2% of LCKD vs. 62% of LGID participants (p<0.01)."
Low-carbohydrate diet in type 2 diabetes: stable improvement of bodyweight and glycemic control during 44 months follow-up
"A reduced carbohydrate diet is effective in motivated patients and can be recommended for overweight patients with type 2 diabetes. There has been no sign of a negative cardiovascular effect."
Dietary carbohydrate restriction in type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome: time for a critical appraisal
"Current nutritional approaches to metabolism syndrome and type 2 diabetes generally rely on reductions in dietary fat. The success of such approaches has been limited and therapy more generally relies on pharmacology. The argument is made that a re-evaluation of the role of carbohydrate restriction, the historical and intuitive approach to the problem, may provide an alternative and possibly superior dietary strategy."
A low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet to treat type 2 diabetes
"In summary, the LCKD had positive effects on body weight, waist measurement, serum triglycerides, and glycemic control in a cohort of 21 participants with type 2 diabetes. Most impressive is that improvement in hemoglobin A1c was observed despite a small sample size and short duration of follow-up, and this improvement in glycemic control occurred while diabetes medications were reduced substantially in many participants."
Nutrition in patients with Type 2 diabetes: are low carbohydrate diets effective, safe or desirable? (Review)
"It does appear from recent studies that risks associated with short-term use of low-carbohydrate diets have been exaggerated. Many professionals feel that the diets should not be promoted until we have more evidence. A very recent systematic review of diet interventions for patients with Type 2 diabetes [142] serves to remind us that we have remarkably little long-term evidence for any dietary intervention in this condition."
The case for low carbohydrate diets in diabetes management
"Evidence from various randomized controlled trials in recent years has convinced us that such diets are safe and effective, at least in short-term. These data show low carbohydrate diets to be comparable or better than traditional low fat high carbohydrate diets for weight reduction, improvement in the dyslipidemia of diabetes and metabolic syndrome as well as control of blood pressure, postprandial glycemia and insulin secretion. Furthermore, the ability of low carbohydrate diets to reduce triglycerides and to increase HDL is of particular importance."
The Effects of a Low-Carbohydrate Regimen on Glycemic Control and Serum Lipids in Diabetes Mellitus
"A carbohydrate-restricted regimen improved glycemic control and lipid profiles in selected motivated patients. Therefore, further investigation of the effects of this protocol on treating diabetes mellitus should be considered. Additionally, the reduction of insulin afforded by this diet could theoretically lead to a reduction in hypoglycemic events."
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Eggs
Dietary Cholesterol from Eggs Increases Plasma HDL Cholesterol in Overweight Men Consuming a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet
"Eighteen subjects were classified as having the metabolic syndrome (MetS) at the beginning of the study, whereas 3 subjects had that classification at the end. These results suggest that including eggs in a CRD results in increased HDL-C while decreasing the risk factors associated with MetS."
Eggs modulate the inflammatory response to carbohydrate restricted diets in overweight men
"A CRD with daily intake of eggs decreased plasma CRP and increased plasma adiponectin compared to a CRD without eggs. These findings indicate that eggs make a significant contribution to the anti-inflammatory effects of CRD, possibly due to the presence of cholesterol, which increases HDL-C and to the antioxidant lutein which modulates certain inflammatory responses."
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Epilepsy
The Ketogenic Diet: One Decade Later
"The past decade has been an amazing one for those interested in the KD. Its increasing use in children with difficult-to-control seizures has opened new vistas for these children and also for our understanding of epilepsy. Its potential use in adults by using a less restrictive Atkins diet may make a difference to this population as well. The diet’s documented efficacy and tolerability have opened new horizons as it is tried for a variety of ills from brain tumors to migraine, and from head trauma to neurodegenerative diseases. Most exciting is the realization that beliefs concerning a high-fat diet making people fat and dyslipidemic have been proven false. Researchers are rediscovering that ketone bodies are not necessarily bad and that glucose is not necessarily good. A whole new era of metabolic research has opened up. It is not completely clear where it will lead, but its promise is exciting."
A Prospective Study of the Modified Atkins Diet for Intractable Epilepsy in Adults
"A modified Atkins diet appears to demonstrate preliminary efficacy for adults with intractable epilepsy, especially in those who lost weight."
When do seizures usually improve with the ketogenic diet?
"The KD works quickly when effective, typically within the first 1–2 weeks. Starting the KD after a fasting period may lead to a more rapid, but equivalent long-term seizure reduction, confirming prior reports."
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and the Ketogenic Diet
"Twelve children, ages 8 months to 18 years, were identified. Eleven (92%) children had a >50% reduction in their seizures at 6 months on the diet, and 8 (67%) had a >90% response. Five children had at least a 5-month seizure-free response. Diet duration ranged from 2 months to 5 years (mean, 2 years)."
Full Text: Kossoff et al, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex and the Ketogenic Diet. Epilepsia, 46(10):1684–1686, 2005
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Exercise
[Note] Their may be problems when partaking in high intensity exercise but you can get around this by targetting carbohydrates around these times. Some research here: Research on exercise and heart rate.
Ketogenic diets and physical performance
"Impaired physical performance is a common but not obligate result of a low carbohydrate diet. Lessons from traditional Inuit culture indicate that time for adaptation, optimized sodium and potassium nutriture, and constraint of protein to 15–25 % of daily energy expenditure allow unimpaired endurance performance despite nutritional ketosis."
Full Text: Phinney SD, Ketogenic diets and physical performance. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2004 Aug 17;1(1):2.
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Gastroesophageal Reflux
A Very Low-Carbohydrate Diet Improves Gastroesophageal Reflux and Its Symptoms. (Comparative Study)
"Obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may experience resolution of symptoms utilizing a very low-carbohydrate diet. The mechanism of this improvement is unknown. This studied aimed to prospectively assess changes in distal esophageal acid exposure and GERD symptoms among obese adults initiating a very low-carbohydrate diet."
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Hormones
Body Composition and Hormonal Responses to a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet
"In summary, a 6-week carbohydrate-restricted diet resulted in a favorable response in body composition (decreased fat mass and increased lean body mass) in normal-weight men. Our results indicate that endocrine adaptations may partially mediate the accelerated fat loss, in particular the decrease in circulating insulin concentrations."
Low Carbohydrate Diets & Kidneys
A low-carbohydrate diet may prevent end-stage renal failure in type 2 diabetes. A case report
"An obese patient with type 2 diabetes whose diet was changed from the recommended highcarbohydrate, low-fat type to a low-carbohydrate diet showed a significant reduction in bodyweight, improved glycemic control and a reversal of a six year long decline of renal function. The reversal of the renal function was likely caused by both improved glycemic control and elimination of the patient’s obesity."
Dietary protein intake and renal function
"Although excessive protein intake remains a health concern in individuals with pre-existing renal disease, the literature lacks significant research demonstrating a link between protein intake and the initiation or progression of renal disease in healthy individuals. More importantly, evidence suggests that protein-induced changes in renal function are likely a normal adaptative mechanism well within the functional limits of a healthy kidney."
Full Text: Martin et al, Dietary protein intake and renal function. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2005 Sep 20;2:25.
Low Carb Diets and Metabolic Syndrome
Carbohydrate Restriction has a More Favorable Impact on the Metabolic Syndrome than a
Low Fat Diet
"Despite a threefold higher intake of dietary saturated fat during the CRD, saturated fatty acids in TAG and cholesteryl ester were significantly decreased, as was palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7), an endogenous marker of lipogenesis, compared to subjects consuming the LFD."
Carbohydrate restriction improves the features of Metabolic Syndrome. Metabolic
Syndrome may be defined by the response to carbohydrate restriction.
"Five symptoms common to most definitions of MetS are those that are reliably improved by CHO restriction. Carbohydrate restriction is one strategy for weight loss but, in addition, improves glycemic control, insulin levels, TAG and HDL levels even in the absence of weight loss. We suggest that response to CHO restriction may, in fact, be an operational definition of MetS. Its underlying basis would rest on the idea that the features of MetS are associated with a disruption in insulin metabolism which is strongly influenced by dietary CHO. The extent to which this definition is useful may depend on its application by individual practitioners. Experimental studies that follow its lead or conversely disprove its fundamental premise should advance our understanding of obesity, diabetes and CVD. Dismissing CHO restriction without evidence, or expressing “concerns” rather than offering data will probably be less productive."
Very low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets affect fasting lipids and postprandial lipemia differently in overweight men.
"The short-term hypoenergetic low-fat diet was more effective at lowering serum LDL-C, but the very low-carbohydrate diet was more effective at improving characteristics of the metabolic syndrome as shown by a decrease in fasting serum TAG, the TAG/HDL-C ratio, postprandial lipemia, serum glucose, an increase in LDL particle size, and also greater weight loss (P < 0.05)."
Clinical Experience of a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet for the Metabolic Syndrome
"Because of the effects on weight, triglycerides, and HDL, a carbohydrate-restricted diet may be useful for the treatment of metabolic syndrome."
Clinical Use of a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet to Treat the Dyslipidemia of the Metabolic Syndrome
"A carbohydrate-restricted diet recommendation led to improvements in lipid profiles and lipoprotein subclass traits of the metabolic syndrome in a clinical outpatient setting, and should be considered as a treatment for the metabolic syndrome"
Low Carb Diets and Mood
Psychological benefits of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome-A pilot study.
"The HPLC diet was associated with significant reduction in depression and improvement in self-esteem. There was no change in any psychological measures for the LPHC group."
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Muscle Mass
Very-low-carbohydrate diets and preservation of muscle mass
"Although more long-term studies are needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn, it appears, from most literature studied, that a VLCARB is, if anything, protective against muscle protein catabolism during energy restriction, provided that it contains adequate amounts of protein."
Low Carb Diets and Net Carbs
"Net Carbs": The Lowdown on Low-carb Labeling
"Measures of “net carbs” often subtract out the carbohydrates due to sugar alcohols. The scientific basis for discounting all sugar alcohol effects is questionable. It is based on the assumption that all sugar alcohols behave the same in the body, and in a way that is significantly different than other carbohydrates – an assumption that is largely untrue"
Low Carbohydrate Diets and PCOS
The effects of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet on the polycystic ovary syndrome: A pilot study
"In summary, in this pilot study, a LCKD led to significant reductions in weight, percent free testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, and fasting serum insulin in women with obesity and PCOS over a six-month period."
Low Carb Diets and Protein
A high-protein diet induces sustained reductions in appetite, ad libitum caloric intake, and body weight despite compensatory changes in diurnal plasma leptin and ghrelin concentrations.
"An increase in dietary protein from 15% to 30% of energy at a constant carbohydrate intake produces a sustained decrease in ad libitum caloric intake that may be mediated by increased central nervous system leptin sensitivity and results in significant weight loss. This anorexic effect of protein may contribute to the weight loss produced by low-carbohydrate diets."
Low Carb Diets and Red Meat
Increased Lean Red Meat Intake Does Not Elevate Markers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Humans
Randomized Controlled Trial
"Our results suggest that partial replacement of dietary carbohydrate with protein from lean red meat does not elevate oxidative stress or inflammation."
Low Carbohydrate Diet Reviews
Systematic review of randomized controlled trials of low-carbohydrate vs. low-fat/low-calorie diets in the management of obesity and its comorbidities
"There were significant differences between the groups for weight, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triacylglycerols and systolic blood pressure, favouring the low-carbohydrate diet. There was a higher attrition rate in the low-fat compared with the low-carbohydrate groups suggesting a patient preference for a low-carbohydrate/high-protein approach as opposed to the Public Health preference of a low-fat/high-carbohydrate diet. Evidence from this systematic review demonstrates that low-carbohydrate/high-protein diets are more effective at 6 months and are as effective, if not more, as low-fat diets in reducing weight and cardiovascular disease risk up to 1 year."
Low-carbohydrate nutrition and metabolism
"The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strategies are needed if the epidemic is to be overcome. A promising nutritional approach suggested by this thematic review is carbohydrate restriction. Recent studies show that, under conditions of carbohydrate restriction, fuel sources shift from glucose and fatty acids to fatty acids and ketones, and that ad libitum–fed carbohydrate-restricted diets lead to appetite reduction, weight loss, and improvement in surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease."
Full Text: Westman et al, Low-carbohydrate nutrition and metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Aug;86(2):276-84.
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Saturated Fat
Comparison of Low Fat and Low Carbohydrate Diets on Circulating Fatty Acid Composition and Markers of Inflammation.
"In summary, a very low carbohydrate diet resulted in profound alterations in fatty acid composition and reduced inflammation compared to a low fat diet."
Saturated fat prevents coronary artery disease? An American paradox
" In conclusion, the hypothesis-generating report of Mozaffarian et al draws attention to the different effects of diet on lipoprotein physiology and cardiovascular disease risk. These effects include the paradox that a high-fat, high–saturated fat diet is associated with diminished coronary artery disease progression in women with the metabolic syndrome, a condition that is epidemic in the United States. This paradox presents a challenge to differentiate the effects of dietary fat on lipoproteins and cardiovascular disease risk in men and women, in the different lipid disorders, and in the metabolic syndrome."
Reducing the serum cholesterol level with a diet high in animal fat.
Multiple food allergies required a group of seven patients with elevated serum cholesterol levels to follow a diet in which most of the calories came from beef fat. Their diets contained no sucrose, milk, or grains. They were given nutritional supplements. This is the only group of people in recent times to follow such a diet. During the study, the patients' triglyceride levels decreased from an average of 113 mg/dl to an average of 74 mg/dl; at the same time, their serum cholesterol levels fell from an average of 263 mg/dl to an average of 189 mg/dl. At the beginning of the study, six of the patients had an average high-density lipoprotein percentage of 21%. At the end of the study, the average had risen to 32%. These findings raise an interesting question: are elevated serum cholesterol levels caused in part not by eating animal fat (an extremely "old food"), but by some factor in grains, sucrose, or milk ("new foods") that interferes with cholesterol metabolism?
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, gluten, and low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diets: a case report and review of the literature
"She returned for a follow-up appointment 7 days after starting the low-carbohydrate diet. She was feeling well, and noted an increase in energy. She was seen again in clinic 19 days later. When asked how she was doing, she responded that she was no longer hearing voices or seeing skeletons. She first noticed this upon awakening about 8 days after starting the program. She had had no change in medication. The only change had been in her dietary intake which now consisted of beef, chicken, turkey, ham, fish, green beans, tomatoes, diet drinks, and water."
Low Carbohydrate Diets and Thermodynamics
Thermodynamics of weight loss diets
"It is commonly held that "a calorie is a calorie", i.e. that diets of equal caloric content will result in identical weight change independent of macronutrient composition, and appeal is frequently made to the laws of thermodynamics. We have previously shown that thermodynamics does not support such a view and that diets of different macronutrient content may be expected to induce different changes in body mass. Low carbohydrate diets in particular have claimed a "metabolic advantage" meaning more weight loss than in isocaloric diets of higher carbohydrate content. In this review, for pedagogic clarity, we reframe the theoretical discussion to directly link thermodynamic inefficiency to weight change."
Full Text: Fine EJ, Feinman RD, Thermodynamics of weight loss diets. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2004 Dec 8;1(1):15.
Low Carbohydrate Diets & Weight Loss
Weight Loss with a Low-Carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or Low-Fat Diet
"Mediterranean and low-carbohydrate diets may be effective alternatives to low-fat diets. The more favorable effects on lipids (with the low-carbohydrate diet) and on glycemic control (with the Mediterranean diet) suggest that personal preferences and metabolic considerations might inform individualized tailoring of dietary interventions."
Effects of a high-protein ketogenic diet on hunger, appetite, and weight loss in obese men feeding ad libitum
"In the short term, high-protein, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets reduce hunger and lower food intake significantly more than do high-protein, medium-carbohydrate nonketogenic diets."
A low-carbohydrate diet is more effective in reducing body weight than healthy eating in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects
"Analysis was by intention to treat with last observation carried forward. Twenty-two of the participants (85%) completed the study. Weight loss was greater (6.9 vs. 2.1 kg, P = 0.003) in the low-carbohydrate group, with no difference in changes in HbA1c, ketone or lipid levels."
Three-year weight change in successful weight losers who lost weight on a low-carbohydrate diet
"It is possible to achieve and maintain long-term weight loss using a low-carbohydrate diet. The long-term health effects of weight loss associated with a high-fat diet and low activity level merits further investigation."
Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN Diets for Change in Weight and Related Risk Factors Among Overweight Premenopausal Women
"In this study, premenopausal overweight and obese women assigned to follow the Atkins diet, which had the lowest carbohydrate intake, lost more weight and experienced more favorable overall metabolic effects at 12 months than women assigned to follow the Zone, Ornish, or LEARN diets."
Physiogenomic analysis of weight loss induced by dietary carbohydrate restriction
"A strong association between weight loss induced by dietary CHO restriction and variability in genes regulating fat digestion, hepatic glucose metabolism, intravascular lipoprotein remodeling, and appetite were detected. These discoveries could provide clues to important physiologic adaptations underlying the body mass response to CHO restriction."
Comparison of High-Fat and High-Protein Diets with a High-Carbohydrate diet in Insulin-Resistant Obese Women
"Aims/hypothesis A diet low in saturated fatty acids and rich in wholegrains, vegetables and fruit is recommended in order to reduce the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However there is widespread interest in high-fat (ldquoAtkins Dietrdquo) and high-protein (ldquoZone Dietrdquo) alternatives to the conventional high-carbohydrate, high-fibre approach. We report on a randomised trial that compared these two alternative approaches with a conventional diet in overweight insulin-resistant women."
The Role of Energy Expenditure in the Differential Weight Loss in Obese Women on Low-Fat and Low-Carbohydrate Diets
"In summary, we have demonstrated that women consuming a low-carbohydrate diet lose more weight than women consuming a low-fat diet over several months. The more pronounced weight loss in the low-carbohydrate dieters is not explained by increased REE, TEF, or physical activity and cannot be accounted for by their reported energy intakes."
Comparison of energy-restricted very low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets on weight loss and body composition in overweight men and women
"In summary, this study showed greater weight loss and fat loss preferentially from the trunk region in subjects on a closely monitored free-living VLCK diet compared to a LF diet. These diets were prescribed to be energy restricted and isocaloric. The superiority of the VLCK diet over the LF diet was most dramatic for men, but when individual responses were examined, a group of women clearly showed metabolic advantage as well. Indeed, 12/13 women experienced greater fat loss in the trunk region during the VLCK diet compared to the low-fat diet. Such a response is consistent with a metabolic advantage of VLCK diets."
A Low-Carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet versus a Low-Fat Diet To Treat Obesity and Hyperlipidemia
"Over 24 weeks, a low-carbohydrate diet program led to greater weight loss, reduction in serum triglyceride level, and increase in HDL cholesterol level compared with a low-fat diet. These effects on weight loss and serum triglyceride level are similar to those in 4 randomized, controlled trials of the low-carbohydrate diet (7-10). The serum HDL cholesterol level also increased in 1 of these studies (9). The magnitude of weight loss that we observed compares favorably with that achieved with use of weight loss medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, such as orlistat (decrease of about 9% at 6 months) (18, 19) and sibutramine (decrease of about 8% at 6 months) (20)."
The National Cholesterol Education Program Diet vs a Diet Lower in Carbohydrates and Higher in Protein and Monounsaturated Fat
"Compared with the NCEP diet, the MLC diet, which is lower in total carbohydrates but higher in complex carbohydrates, protein, and monounsaturated fat, caused significantly greater weight loss over 12 weeks. There were no significant differences between the groups in blood lipid levels, but favorable changes were observed within the MLC diet group."
A Low-Carbohydrate as Compared with a Low-Fat Diet in Severe Obesity
6 Month Randomized Trial
"Severely obese subjects with a high prevalence of diabetes or the metabolic syndrome lost more weight during six months on a carbohydrate-restricted diet than on a calorie- and fat-restricted diet, with a relative improvement in insulin sensitivity and triglyceride levels, even after adjustment for the amount of weight lost."
One year follow up to this study below:
The Effects of Low-Carbohydrate versus Conventional Weight Loss Diets in Severely Obese Adults: One-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Trial
"In summary, we found similar weight loss in persons randomly assigned to a low-carbohydrate diet or a conventional diet by 1 year. Despite modest overall weight loss in both diet groups, assignment to the low-carbohydrate group had a direct and more favorable effect on triglyceride level, HDL cholesterol level, and glycemic control in the smaller subgroup of patients with diabetes. These findings give further evidence that restriction of carbohydrates in obese persons, who may be overconsuming carbohydrates at baseline, may have favorable metabolic effects."
Effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factor in overweight adolescents
"The LC group lost more weight (mean, 9.9 ± 9.3 kg vs 4.1 ± 4.9 kg, P < .05) and had improvement in non-HDL cholesterol levels (P < .05). There was improvement in LDL cholesterol levels (P < .05) in the LF group but not in the LC group. There were no adverse effects on the lipid profiles of participants in either group."
Very-Low-Carbohydrate Weight-Loss Diets Revisited
"Most studies have found that people lose more weight on very-low-carbohydrate diets than on standard weight-loss diets."
"Mechanisms of weight loss on these diets may go beyond water loss and include suppression of appetite, increasing the metabolic rate, decreasing metabolic efficiency, and shunting of nutrients away from fat storage."
"Weight loss is usually associated with small to moderate reductions in lean tissue, but low-energy, very-lowcarbohydrate diets may have a protein-sparing effect compared with low-fat diets."
"These diets may also have favorable effects on specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease (eg, fasting and postprandial triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein levels, and low-density lipoprotein particle size)."
Effect of 6-Month Adherence to a Very Low Carbohydrate Diet Program
"To determine the effect of a 6-month very low carbohydrate diet program on body weight and other metabolic parameters.Fifty-one overweight or obese healthy volunteers who wanted to lose weight were placed on a very low carbohydrate diet (<25 g/d), with no limit on caloric intake."
Response of body weight to a low carbohydrate, high fat diet in normal and obese subjects
"The response of the body weight was compared with the weight loss obtained under one of the low fat, relatively high carbohydrate diets. Under the low fat reducing diets, the results in a total of 23 obese individuals (Table 2) indicate that the average daily weight loss is 0.49 kg when a 855 kcal diet (diet 1) is consumed and 0.26 kg with a 1,006 kcal diet (diet 2). By comparison, the average daily weight loss under high fat, low carbohydrate diets was 0.30 kg/day under diet 3 (1,707 kcal), and 0,32 kg/day under diet 5 (2,150 kcal), not withstanding the essentially higher total calorie intake per day. If fat was exchanged isocalorically for glucose (diet 4), the weight loss ceased."
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