Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials of the effects of low carbohydrate diets on cardiovascular risk factors.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Results Summary
The meta-analysis found that LCD significantly reduced body weight, BMI, abdominal circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, and C-reactive protein, while increasing HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol and creatinine did not change significantly, and long-term health effects remain unknown.
Population
1,141 obese patients
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | body weight | 1,141 obese patients | -7.04 kg [95% CI -7.20/-6.88] | significant decreases | #1 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | body mass index | 1,141 obese patients | -2.09 kg m(-2) [95% CI -2.15/-2.04] | significant decreases | #2 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | abdominal circumference | 1,141 obese patients | -5.74 cm [95% CI -6.07/-5.41] | significant decreases | #3 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | systolic blood pressure | 1,141 obese patients | -4.81 mm Hg [95% CI -5.33/-4.29] | significant decreases | #4 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | diastolic blood pressure | 1,141 obese patients | -3.10 mm Hg [95% CI -3.45/-2.74] | significant decreases | #5 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | plasma triglycerides | 1,141 obese patients | -29.71 mg dL(-1) [95% CI -31.99/-27.44] | significant decreases | #6 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | fasting plasma glucose | 1,141 obese patients | -1.05 mg dL(-1) [95% CI -1.67/-0.44] | significant decreases | #7 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | glycated haemoglobin | 1,141 obese patients | -0.21% [95% CI -0.24/-0.18] | significant decreases | #8 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | plasma insulin | 1,141 obese patients | -2.24 micro IU mL(-1) [95% CI -2.65/-1.82] | significant decreases | #9 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | plasma C-reactive protein | 1,141 obese patients | - | significant decreases | #10 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | increase | high-density lipoprotein cholesterol | 1,141 obese patients | 1.73 mg dL(-1) [95%CI 1.44/2.01] | increase | #11 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | no change | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol | 1,141 obese patients | no significant change | did not change significantly | #12 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | no change | creatinine | 1,141 obese patients | no significant change | did not change significantly | #13 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | body weight | - | - | favourable effects | #14 |
low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) | decrease | major cardiovascular risk factors | - | - | favourable effects | #15 |
A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to study the effects of low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors (search performed on PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Scopus databases). A total of 23 reports, corresponding to 17 clinical investigations, were identified as meeting the pre-specified criteria. Meta-analysis carried out on data obtained in 1,141 obese patients, showed the LCD to be associated with significant decreases in body weight (-7.04 kg [95% CI -7.20/-6.88]), body mass index (-2.09 kg m(-2) [95% CI -2.15/-2.04]), abdominal circumference (-5.74 cm [95% CI -6.07/-5.41]), systolic blood pressure (-4.81 mm Hg [95% CI -5.33/-4.29]), diastolic blood pressure (-3.10 mm Hg [95% CI -3.45/-2.74]), plasma triglycerides (-29.71 mg dL(-1) [95% CI -31.99/-27.44]), fasting plasma glucose (-1.05 mg dL(-1) [95% CI -1.67/-0.44]), glycated haemoglobin (-0.21% [95% CI -0.24/-0.18]), plasma insulin (-2.24 micro IU mL(-1) [95% CI -2.65/-1.82]) and plasma C-reactive protein, as well as an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1.73 mg dL(-1) [95%CI 1.44/2.01]). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and creatinine did not change significantly, whereas limited data exist concerning plasma uric acid. LCD was shown to have favourable effects on body weight and major cardiovascular risk factors; however the effects on long-term health are unknown.