A Ketogenic Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet Increases LDL Cholesterol in Healthy, Young, Normal-Weight Women: A Randomized Controlled Feeding Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the effect of a ketogenic LCHF diet on LDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol subfractions, and conventional cardiovascular risk factors in healthy, young, normal-weight women.
Results Summary
The LCHF diet increased LDL cholesterol in every participant, with a treatment effect of 1.82 mM. The study did not report on other cardiovascular risk factors or adverse effects.
Population
Healthy, young, normal-weight women
Effective Dosage
4% carbohydrates, 77% fat, 19% protein (LCHF diet); 44% carbohydrates, 33% fat, 19% protein (control diet)
Duration
4 weeks per diet, with a 15-week washout period
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ketogenic low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diet | increase | low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol | healthy, young, and normal-weight women | 1.82 mM | increased | #1 |
ketogenic low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diet | increase | LDL cholesterol | every woman | - | increased | #2 |
Ketogenic low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) diets are popular among young, healthy, normal-weight individuals for various reasons. We aimed to investigate the effect of a ketogenic LCHF diet on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (primary outcome), LDL cholesterol subfractions and conventional cardiovascular risk factors in the blood of healthy, young, and normal-weight women. The study was a randomized, controlled, feeding trial with crossover design. Twenty-four women were assigned to a 4 week ketogenic LCHF diet (4% carbohydrates; 77% fat; 19% protein) followed by a 4 week National Food Agency recommended control diet (44% carbohydrates; 33% fat; 19% protein), or the reverse sequence due to the crossover design. Treatment periods were separated by a 15 week washout period. Seventeen women completed the study and treatment effects were evaluated using mixed models. The LCHF diet increased LDL cholesterol in every woman with a treatment effect of 1.82 mM (