Effects of Two Weight-loss Diets on Health-related Quality of Life.

Mental aspects of HRQOL (health related quality of life) improved more in participants following an LCKD (low calorie ketogenic diet) than an LFD (low fat diet), possibly resulting from the LCKD’s composition, lack of explicit energy restriction, higher levels of satiety or metabolic effects. The factors analyzed were: Physical Functioning, Role-Physical, General Health, Vitality, Social Functioning. The Physical Component Summary score improved similarly in both diet groups. Bodily Pain improved in the LFD group only, whereas the Role-Emotional and Mental Health subscales and the Mental Component Summary (MCS) score improved in the LCKD group only.

A Low-carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet to Treat Type 2 Diabetes

In a study of overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes, the LCKD (low carbohydrate ketogenic diet) improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes such that diabetes medications were discontinued or reduced in most participants. Other results include: mean body weight decreased by 6.6% and fasting serum triglyceride decreased 42%.

A Pilot Trial of a Low-Carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

The study focused on overweight individuals with BMI >25 and being treated with OHA (oral hypoglycemic agents) or insulin that were placed on a LCKD (low carbohydrate ketogenic diet) for 16 weeks. Anthropometric changes include: Body weight = -10%, BMI = -10%, Waist circumference = -7%, Body fat % = -3%, Systolic BP = -9%, Diastolic BP = -15%, Heart Rate = -12%, HDL = no change.

A Pilot Study of a Low-Carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet for Obesity-Related Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, and is frequently associated with central obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Because recent evidence demonstrates that a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) leads to weight loss and improvements in insulin sensitivity, we conducted this uncontrolled trial of the diet for PCOS.

Effect of 6-month Adherence to a Very Low Carbohydrate Diet Program

In these subjects, the mean body weight decreased 10.3% +/- 5.9% from baseline to 6 months. The mean percentage of body weight that was fat decreased 2.9% +/- 3.2% from baseline to 6 months. Serum total cholesterol level decreased 11 +/- 26 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level decreased 10 +/- 25 mg/dL, triglyceride level decreased 56 +/- 45 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level increased 10 +/- 8 mg/dL, and the cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio decreased 0.9 +/- 0.6 units. A very low carbohydrate diet program led to sustained weight loss during a 6-month period.

Carbohydrate Restriction has a More Favorable Impact on the Metabolic Syndrome than a Low Fat Diet

Both interventions led to improvements in several metabolic markers, but subjects following the CRD had consistently reduced glucose (-12%) and insulin (-50%) concentrations, insulin sensitivity (-55%), weight loss (-10%), decreased adiposity (-14%), and more favorable triacylglycerol (TAG) (-51%), HDL-C (13%) and total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio (-14%) responses. In addition to these markers for MetS, the CRD subjects showed more favorable responses to alternative indicators of cardiovascular risk: postprandial lipemia (-47%), the Apo B/Apo A-1 ratio (-16%), and LDL particle distribution. The results support the use of dietary carbohydrate restriction as an effective approach to improve features of MetS and cardiovascular risk.