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Effects of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diets on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nordmann, AJ; Nordmann, A; Briel, M; Keller, U; Yancy, WS; Brehm, BJ; Bucher, HC
Published in: Arch Intern Med
February 13, 2006

BACKGROUND: Low-carbohydrate diets have become increasingly popular for weight loss. However, evidence from individual trials about benefits and risks of these diets to achieve weight loss and modify cardiovascular risk factors is preliminary. METHODS: We used the Cochrane Collaboration search strategy to identify trials comparing the effects of low-carbohydrate diets without restriction of energy intake vs low-fat diets in individuals with a body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) of at least 25. Included trials had to report changes in body weight in intention-to-treat analysis and to have a follow-up of at least 6 months. Two reviewers independently assessed trial eligibility and quality of randomized controlled trials. RESULTS: Five trials including a total of 447 individuals fulfilled our inclusion criteria. After 6 months, individuals assigned to low-carbohydrate diets had lost more weight than individuals randomized to low-fat diets (weighted mean difference, -3.3 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI], -5.3 to -1.4 kg). This difference was no longer obvious after 12 months (weighted mean difference, -1.0 kg; 95% CI, -3.5 to 1.5 kg). There were no differences in blood pressure. Triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values changed more favorably in individuals assigned to low-carbohydrate diets (after 6 months, for triglycerides, weighted mean difference, -22.1 mg/dL [-0.25 mmol/L]; 95% CI, -38.1 to -5.3 mg/dL [-0.43 to -0.06 mmol/L]; and for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, weighted mean difference, 4.6 mg/dL [0.12 mmol/L]; 95% CI, 1.5-8.1 mg/dL [0.04-0.21 mmol/L]), but total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values changed more favorably in individuals assigned to low-fat diets (weighted mean difference in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol after 6 months, 5.4 mg/dL [0.14 mmol/L]; 95% CI, 1.2-10.1 mg/dL [0.03-0.26 mmol/L]). CONCLUSIONS: Low-carbohydrate, non-energy-restricted diets appear to be at least as effective as low-fat, energy-restricted diets in inducing weight loss for up to 1 year. However, potential favorable changes in triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol values should be weighed against potential unfavorable changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol values when low-carbohydrate diets to induce weight loss are considered.

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Published In

Arch Intern Med

DOI

ISSN

0003-9926

Publication Date

February 13, 2006

Volume

166

Issue

3

Start / End Page

285 / 293

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Triglycerides
  • Risk Factors
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Insulin
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Diet, Fat-Restricted
  • Cholesterol
 

Citation

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Nordmann, A. J., Nordmann, A., Briel, M., Keller, U., Yancy, W. S., Brehm, B. J., & Bucher, H. C. (2006). Effects of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diets on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med, 166(3), 285–293. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.3.285
Nordmann, Alain J., Abigail Nordmann, Matthias Briel, Ulrich Keller, William S. Yancy, Bonnie J. Brehm, and Heiner C. Bucher. “Effects of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diets on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Arch Intern Med 166, no. 3 (February 13, 2006): 285–93. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.166.3.285.
Nordmann AJ, Nordmann A, Briel M, Keller U, Yancy WS, Brehm BJ, et al. Effects of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diets on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Feb 13;166(3):285–93.
Nordmann, Alain J., et al. “Effects of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diets on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Arch Intern Med, vol. 166, no. 3, Feb. 2006, pp. 285–93. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/archinte.166.3.285.
Nordmann AJ, Nordmann A, Briel M, Keller U, Yancy WS, Brehm BJ, Bucher HC. Effects of low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diets on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Feb 13;166(3):285–293.

Published In

Arch Intern Med

DOI

ISSN

0003-9926

Publication Date

February 13, 2006

Volume

166

Issue

3

Start / End Page

285 / 293

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Weight Loss
  • Triglycerides
  • Risk Factors
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Insulin
  • Humans
  • General & Internal Medicine
  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Diet, Fat-Restricted
  • Cholesterol