The effect of low carbohydrate on energy metabolism.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate whether low-carbohydrate diets are efficient for reduction of body weight and through which mechanism.

DESIGN:

A couple of studies using low-carbohydrate diets in the treatment of obesity are reviewed. Mechanisms for explaining the reduced appetite are described in relation to knowledge on regulation of appetite for fat and carbohydrate.

RESULTS:

Studies with low-carbohydrate diets demonstrate a rapid weight loss, being more pronounced after 3 and 6 months compared to low-fat diets. After 12 months there is no difference between the low-carbohydrate and the conventional low-fat diet on weight loss. Both diets lead to improvements in risk factors for coronary heart disease, the low-carbohydrate diet leading to a greater decrease in serum triglycerides and increase in HDL cholesterol compared to the low-fat diet. Blood pressure, insulin sensitivity and LDL cholesterol were improved to a similar degree by the two diets. The mechanism for the rapid weight loss with the low-carbohydrate diet is a suppressed appetite, first through the high-protein content of the diet, second through the ketogenic nature of the diet with satiety signals for fat being active and third through the absence of hunger-promoting carbohydrate components like sucrose and/or fructose.

CONCLUSION:

A rapid initial weight loss occurs with a low-carbohydrate diet due to a suppressed appetite. There is as yet no indication of an increased metabolic rate and an increased thermogenesis by the low-carbohydrate diet. The safety and efficacy of low-carbohydrate diets have to await further studies.

• Authors: C Erlanson-Albertsson, J Mei
• Journal: International journal of obesity (2005) (Int J Obes (Lond)) Vol. 29 Suppl 2 Pg. S26-30 (Sep 2005) ISSN: 0307-0565 [Print] England
• PMID: 16385748 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Dietary Carbohydrates
• Lipids

Topics

• Appetite Regulation
• Diet, Reducing
• Dietary Carbohydrates (administration & dosage)
• Energy Metabolism
• Humans
• Lipids (blood)
• Obesity (blood, diet therapy)