Effects of low-carbohydrate diets versus low-fat diets on metabolic risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials.

Abstract

The effects of low-carbohydrate diets (≤45% of energy from carbohydrates) versus low-fat diets (≤30% of energy from fat) on metabolic risk factors were compared in a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Twenty-three trials from multiple countries with a total of 2,788 participants met the predetermined eligibility criteria (from January 1, 1966 to June 20, 2011) and were included in the analyses. Data abstraction was conducted in duplicate by independent investigators. Both low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets lowered weight and improved metabolic risk factors. Compared with participants on low-fat diets, persons on low-carbohydrate diets experienced a slightly but statistically significantly lower reduction in total cholesterol (2.7 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval: 0.8, 4.6), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.7 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval: 1.0, 6.4), but a greater increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.3 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval: 1.9, 4.7) and a greater decrease in triglycerides (-14.0 mg/dL; 95% confidence interval: -19.4, -8.7). Reductions in body weight, waist circumference and other metabolic risk factors were not significantly different between the 2 diets. These findings suggest that low-carbohydrate diets are at least as effective as low-fat diets at reducing weight and improving metabolic risk factors. Low-carbohydrate diets could be recommended to obese persons with abnormal metabolic risk factors for the purpose of weight loss. Studies demonstrating long-term effects of low-carbohydrate diets on cardiovascular events were warranted.

• Authors: Tian Hu, Katherine T Mills, Lu Yao, Kathryn Demanelis, Mohamed Eloustaz, William S Yancy Jr, Tanika N Kelly, Jiang He, Lydia A Bazzano
• Journal: American journal of epidemiology (Am J Epidemiol) Vol. 176 Suppl 7 Pg. S44-54 (Oct 01 2012) ISSN: 1476-6256 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 23035144 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Cholesterol, HDL
• Cholesterol, LDL
• Insulin
• Triglycerides
• Cholesterol

Topics

• Adult
• Age Factors
• Blood Glucose (analysis)
• Blood Pressure
• Body Weight
• Cholesterol (blood)
• Cholesterol, HDL (blood)
• Cholesterol, LDL (blood)
• Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted
• Diet, Fat-Restricted
• Female
• Humans
• Insulin (blood)
• Male
• Metabolic Syndrome (drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Middle Aged
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Risk Factors
• Sex Factors
• Triglycerides (blood)
• Waist Circumference
• Young Adult