Conclusions Large r and omized controlled trials of at least 6 months duration with carbohydrate restriction appear superior in improving lipid markers when compared with low-fat diets .
Context Carbohydrate-restricted diets may increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and thereby cardiovascular risk .
Objective A systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted to compare the effects of very low , low , and moderate carbohydrate , higher fat diets versus high-carbohydrate , low-fat diets on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other lipid markers in overweight/obese adults .
A randomized trial of a low-carbohydrate diet for obesity.
BACKGROUND Despite the popularity of the low-carbohydrate , high-protein , high-fat ( Atkins ) diet , no r and omized , controlled trials have evaluated its efficacy . METHODS We conducted a one-year , multicenter , controlled trial involving 63 obese men and women who were r and omly assigned to either a low-carbohydrate , high-protein , high-fat diet or a low-calorie , high-carbohydrate , low-fat ( conventional ) diet . Professional contact was minimal to replicate the approach used by most dieters . RESULTS Subjects on the low-carbohydrate diet had lost more weight than subjects on the conventional diet at 3 months ( mean [ + /-SD ] , -6.8+/-5.0 vs. -2.7+/-3.7 percent of body weight ; P=0.001 ) and 6 months ( -7.0+/-6.5 vs. -3.2+/-5.6 percent of body weight , P=0.02 ) , but the difference at 12 months was not significant ( -4.4+/-6.7 vs. -2.5+/-6.3 percent of body weight , P=0.26 ) . After three months , no significant differences were found between the groups in total or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations . The increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and the decrease in triglyceride concentrations were greater among subjects on the low-carbohydrate diet than among those on the conventional diet throughout most of the study . Both diets significantly decreased diastolic blood pressure and the insulin response to an oral glucose load . CONCLUSIONS The low-carbohydrate diet produced a greater weight loss ( absolute difference , approximately 4 percent ) than did the conventional diet for the first six months , but the differences were not significant at one year . The low-carbohydrate diet was associated with a greater improvement in some risk factors for coronary heart disease . Adherence was poor and attrition was high in both groups . Longer and larger studies are required to determine the long-term safety and efficacy of low-carbohydrate , high-protein , high-fat diets
Conclusions Large r and omized controlled trials of at least 6 months duration with carbohydrate restriction appear superior in improving lipid markers when compared with low-fat diets .
Context Carbohydrate-restricted diets may increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and thereby cardiovascular risk .
Objective A systematic review and meta-analyses were conducted to compare the effects of very low , low , and moderate carbohydrate , higher fat diets versus high-carbohydrate , low-fat diets on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other lipid markers in overweight/obese adults .