Variations in body composition and plasma lipids in response to a high-carbohydrate diet.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of a high-carbohydrate diet versus a high-MUFA diet on lipid profiles and body composition in men.
Results Summary
The high-CHO diet reduced body weight, waist circumference, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol comparably to the high-MUFA diet, but the high-MUFA diet had more favorable effects on triglycerides and HDL cholesterol. Lipid improvements from the high-CHO diet were partly linked to weight changes, while high-MUFA diet effects were independent of weight changes.
Population
63 men
Effective Dosage
58% of energy as carbohydrates (ad libitum consumption)
Duration
6 to 7 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high-CHO diet | decrease | body weight | sixty-three men | - | induced significant and comparable reductions | #1 |
high-MUFA diet | decrease | body weight | sixty-three men | - | induced significant and comparable reductions | #2 |
high-CHO diet | decrease | waist circumference | sixty-three men | - | induced significant and comparable reductions | #3 |
high-MUFA diet | decrease | waist circumference | sixty-three men | - | induced significant and comparable reductions | #4 |
high-CHO diet | decrease | total plasma cholesterol levels | sixty-three men | - | induced significant and comparable reductions | #5 |
high-MUFA diet | decrease | total plasma cholesterol levels | sixty-three men | - | induced significant and comparable reductions | #6 |
high-CHO diet | decrease | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels | sixty-three men | - | induced significant and comparable reductions | #7 |
high-MUFA diet | decrease | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels | sixty-three men | - | induced significant and comparable reductions | #8 |
high-MUFA diet | decrease | plasma triglyceride concentrations | sixty-three men | - | had more beneficial effects | #9 |
high-MUFA diet | increase | plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels | sixty-three men | - | had more beneficial effects | #10 |
high-CHO diet | neutral | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels | high-CHO group | r = 0.39, p = 0.03 | changes in waist circumference were significantly associated with changes | #11 |
high-MUFA diet | no change | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels | high-MUFA group | r = 0.16, p = 0.38 | changes in waist circumference were not associated with changes | #12 |
OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which variations in body composition modulate changes in the lipid profile in response to the ad libitum consumption of a diet rich in carbohydrates (CHOs) (high-CHO diet: 58% of energy as CHOs) or high in fat and in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) (high-MUFA diet: 40% of energy as fat, 23% as MUFAs). RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Sixty-three men were randomly assigned to one of the two diets that they consumed for 6 to 7 weeks. Body composition and fasting plasma lipid levels were measured at the beginning and the end of the dietary intervention. RESULTS: The high-CHO and high-MUFA diets induced significant and comparable reductions in body weight and waist circumference. These changes were accompanied by significant and comparable (p < 0.01) reductions in total plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. However, the high-MUFA diet had more beneficial effects on plasma triglyceride concentrations (p < 0.01) and on plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p = 0.02) compared with the high-CHO diet. Diet-induced changes in waist circumference were significantly associated with changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in the high-CHO group (r = 0.39, p = 0.03) but not in the high-MUFA group (r = 0.16, p = 0.38). DISCUSSION: Improvements in plasma lipids induced by the ad libitum consumption of a high-CHO diet seem to be partly mediated by changes in body weight, whereas lipid changes induced by the high-MUFA diet seem to be independent of changes in body weight.