Changes in Body Weight, Dysglycemia, and Dyslipidemia After Moderately Low-Carbohydrate Diet Education (LOCABO Challenge Program) Among Workers in Japan.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the influence of a moderately low-carbohydrate diet on improving markers of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes among workers in Japan.
Results Summary
The study found significant improvements in weight, BMI, HbA1c, lipid profiles, and sleep quality among participants, particularly those with abnormal baseline values. The moderately low-carbohydrate diet showed potential as an intervention for metabolic syndrome markers.
Population
Workers in Japan with metabolic syndrome or obesity, recruited based on the Specific Health Guidance program criteria.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
12 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a moderately low-carbohydrate diet | decrease | median weight | participants with metabolic syndrome or obesity | from 82.5 to 79.7 kg | decrease | #1 |
a moderately low-carbohydrate diet | decrease | body mass index | participants with metabolic syndrome or obesity | from 27.3 to 26.9 kg/m2 | decrease | #2 |
a moderately low-carbohydrate diet | decrease | apnea-hypopnea index | participants with metabolic syndrome or obesity | from 24.1 to 17.1 | decrease | #3 |
a moderately low-carbohydrate diet | decrease | HbA1c | participants with abnormal baseline values | from 6.7% to 5.8% | decrease | #4 |
a moderately low-carbohydrate diet | decrease | total cholesterol | participants with abnormal baseline values | from 220 to 209 mg/dL | decrease | #5 |
a moderately low-carbohydrate diet | decrease | low-density lipoprotein cholesterol | participants with abnormal baseline values | from 133 to 120 mg/dL | decrease | #6 |
a moderately low-carbohydrate diet | increase | high-density lipoprotein cholesterol | participants with abnormal baseline values | from 35 to 40 mg/dL | increase | #7 |
a moderately low-carbohydrate diet | decrease | triglycerides | participants with abnormal baseline values | from 242 to 190 mg/dL | decrease | #8 |
a moderately low-carbohydrate diet | increase | deep sleep percentage | participants with abnormal baseline values | from 10.4% to 18.2% | increase | #9 |
PURPOSE: It is theorized that the prevalence of obesity has not decreased owing to poor adherence to implemented programs addressing metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes in Japan. Therefore, we intended to evaluate the influence of a moderately low-carbohydrate diet on improving markers of metabolic syndrome among workers in Japan. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Participants with metabolic syndrome or obesity were recruited based on the eligibility criteria for the Specific Health Guidance program and educated on a moderately low-carbohydrate diet between spring 2016 and fall 2018. The participants were then made to report their food intake and body weight once a week for the next 12 weeks and were counselled on maintaining a moderately low-carbohydrate diet. HbA1c levels, lipid profile, body weight, and sleep quality were evaluated. The normality of the data was evaluated using the Skewness/Kurtosis test. Each variable was compared before and after the intervention using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Further, a subgroup analysis of the data from the participants whose variables were abnormal at baseline was performed. RESULTS: Among the 101 enrolled participants, a decrease in the median weight (from 82.5 to 79.7 kg, p<0.001, n=46), body mass index (from 27.3 to 26.9 kg/m2, p<0.001, n=46), and apnea-hypopnea index (from 24.1 to 17.1, p<0.01, n=39) was observed. Subgroup analysis of participants with abnormal baseline values revealed changes in HbA1c (from 6.7% to 5.8%, p<0.001, n=34), total cholesterol (from 220 to 209 mg/dL, p<0.01, n=54), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (from 133 to 120 mg/dL, p<0.001, n=31), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (from 35 to 40 mg/dL, p<0.01, n=31), triglycerides (from 242 to 190 mg/dL, p<0.01, n=57), and deep sleep percentage (from 10.4% to 18.2%, p<0.05, n=7). CONCLUSION: A moderately low-carbohydrate diet may be considered a potential intervention for improving the markers of metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes.