Low‐Carbohydrate Diet Review

Abstract

What does a clinician need to know about low-carbohydrate (LC) diets? This review examines and compares the safety and the effectiveness of a LC approach as an alternative to a low-fat (LF), high-carbohydrate diet, the current standard for weight loss and/or chronic disease prevention. In short-term and long-term comparison studies, ad libitum and isocaloric therapeutic diets with varying degrees of carbohydrate restriction perform as well as or better than comparable LF diets with regard to weight loss, lipid levels, glucose and insulin response, blood pressure, and other important cardiovascular risk markers in both normal subjects and those with metabolic and other health-related disorders. The metabolic, hormonal, and appetite signaling effects of carbohydrate reduction suggest an underlying scientific basis for considering it as an alternative approach to LF, high-carbohydrate recommendations in addressing overweight/obesity and chronic disease in America. It is time to embrace LC diets as a viable option to aid in reversing diabetes mellitus, risk factors for heart disease, and the epidemic of obesity.

Should animal fats be back on the table? A critical review of the human health effects of animal fat

“…High fat low carbohydrate low to moderate protein diets, often called ketogenic diets, have been shown to reverse the metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease without medication and address a range of other biological indicators (Hite et al 2011;Munoz-Serrano 2011a, 2011b). These diets have not only led to weight loss without direct calorie restriction they have resulted in improvement in the risk factors associated with CVD when animal and other fats are used (Foster et al 2003;Volek et al 2003;Herron et al 2004;Sharman and Volek 2004;Volek and Sharman 2004;Yancy et al 2004Yancy et al , 2010Brinkworth et al 2009;Sacks et al 2009).…”

Does Intermittent Fasting Improve Microvascular Endothelial Function in Healthy Middle-aged Subjects?

“…Albeit these changes, endothelial function was improved during Fasting. Low carbohydrate diets result in short-term weight loss and some metabolic benefits [60], but have a deleterious effect on endothelial function [61]. Regarding to current dietary recommendations, 45-60% of daily energy intake should be provided from carbohydrates [62].…”

Impaired glucose tolerance in rats fed low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets

“…In patients with type 2 diabetes, low-carbohydrate diets have been shown to improve glycemic control (24,26,27,42) and are suggested to reduce the likelihood of exacerbating existing hyperinsulinemia (38). It has also been suggested that LC-HF diets could protect against the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (1,29). Nevertheless, the beneficial effects of LC-HF diets on glucose and insulin metabolism have been questioned by some authors (10,37), and a recent study suggested they could even have negative effects on glucose tolerance in healthy lean men (40).…”