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 .
Low-Fat Versus Low-Carbohydrate Weight Reduction Diets
OBJECTIVE Low-fat hypocaloric diets reduce insulin resistance and prevent type 2 diabetes in those at risk .  Low-carbohydrate , high-fat diets are advocated as an alternative , but reciprocal increases in dietary fat may have detrimental effects on insulin resistance and offset the benefits of weight reduction . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We investigated a low-fat ( 20 % fat , 60 % carbohydrate ) versus a low-carbohydrate ( 60 % fat , 20 % carbohydrate ) weight reduction diet in 24 overweight/obese subjects ( [ mean ± SD ] BMI 33.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2 , aged 39 ± 10 years ) in an 8-week r and omized controlled trial . All food was weighed and distributed , and intake was calculated to produce a 500 kcal/day energy deficit . Insulin action was assessed by the euglycemic clamp and insulin secretion by meal tolerance test . Body composition , adipokine levels , and vascular compliance by pulse-wave analysis were also measured . RESULTS Significant weight loss occurred in both groups ( P < 0.01 ) , with no difference between groups ( P = 0.40 ) . Peripheral glucose uptake increased , but there was no difference between groups ( P = 0.28 ) , and suppression of endogenous glucose production was also similar between groups . Meal tolerance – related insulin secretion decreased with weight loss with no difference between groups ( P = 0.71 ) . The change in overall systemic arterial stiffness was , however , significantly different between diets ( P = 0.04 ) ; this reflected a significant decrease in augmentation index following the low-fat diet , compared with a nonsignificant increase within the low-carbohydrate group . CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates comparable effects on insulin resistance of low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets independent of macronutrient content . The difference in augmentation index may imply a negative effect of low-carbohydrate diets on vascular risk
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 .