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 comparing a very low carbohydrate diet and a calorie-restricted low fat diet on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy women.
Untested alternative weight loss diets , such as very low carbohydrate diets , have unsubstantiated efficacy and the potential to adversely affect cardiovascular risk factors . Therefore , we design ed a r and omized , controlled trial to determine the effects of a very low carbohydrate diet on body composition and cardiovascular risk factors . Subjects were r and omized to 6 months of either an ad libitum very low carbohydrate diet or a calorie-restricted diet with 30 % of the calories as fat . Anthropometric and metabolic measures were assessed at baseline , 3 months , and 6 months . Fifty-three healthy , obese female volunteers ( mean body mass index , 33.6 + /- 0.3 kg/m(2 ) ) were r and omized ; 42 ( 79 % ) completed the trial . Women on both diets reduced calorie consumption by comparable amounts at 3 and 6 months . The  very low carbohydrate diet group lost more weight ( 8.5 + /- 1.0 vs. 3.9 + /- 1.0 kg ; P < 0.001 ) and more body fat ( 4.8 + /- 0.67 vs. 2.0 + /- 0.75 kg ; P < 0.01 ) than the low fat diet group .  Mean levels of blood pressure , lipids , fasting glucose , and insulin were within normal ranges in both groups at baseline . Although all of these parameters improved over the course of the study , there were no differences observed between the two diet groups at 3 or 6 months . beta- Hydroxybutyrate increased significantly in the very low carbohydrate group at 3 months ( P = 0.001 ) . Based on these data , a very low carbohydrate diet is more effective than a low fat diet for short-term weight loss and , over 6 months , is not associated with deleterious effects on important cardiovascular risk factors in healthy women
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 .