Research Library
Clinical Experience of a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet for the Metabolic Syndrome
Vernon, M.C., Kueser, B., Transue, M., et. al., “Clinical Experience of a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet for the Metabolic Syndrome,” Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders, 2(3), 2004, pages 180-186.
The following information is available at Pub Med and was not written by Atkins professionals.
Background: Our objective was to analyze a restricted carbohydrate dietary approach compared to a standard low-fat diet plus medication plan as treatment for weight loss and the metabolic syndrome.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients attending an outpatient weight and metabolism management program, including periodic individual visits combined with either a carbohydrate-restricted diet (with multivitamin and essential fatty acids supplementation) or a low-fat/low-calorie diet + phentermine/fenfluramine. The main outcome measurements were total body weight and fasting serum lipid profiles. Clinical data were maintained on standardized flow sheets.
Results: One hundred twenty-two patients had complete baseline and follow-up information. Sixty-six were treated with a carbohydrate restricted diet without medication, and 56 were treated with a combination of a low-fat/low-calorie diet and medication. Weight loss occurred in both groups, but was greater in the medication group: the carbohydrate-restricted group lost a mean of 9.5 kg over 15.0 weeks (0.63 kg/week); the low-fat/low calorie diet + medication group lost a mean of 14.1 kg over a mean duration of 20.2 weeks (0.70 kg/week), p<0.01. The carbohydrate-restricted group had a greater reduction in triglycerides (p=0.02) and triglyceride/HDL ratio (p=0.01), and a greater increase in HDL (p<0.001) than the medication group.
Conclusions: In this outpatient program, a carbohydrate-restricted diet and a low-fat/low-calorie diet + medication led to weight loss, but the carbohydrate-restricted diet had a more favorable effect on triglycerides and HDL. Because of the effects on weight, triglycerides, and HDL, a carbohydrate-restricted diet may be useful for the treatment of the metabolic syndrome.
The following information was written by Atkins professionals.
Obese men and women who followed Induction and OWL for an average of 15 weeks lost a significant amount of weight and had favorable changes in markers of heart disease risk. Another group of obese men and women who followed a low fat, low calorie diet and took weight loss medications for an average of 20.2 weeks had greater weight loss but did not have the improvements in HDL and triglycerides seen in the group following a low carb approach. These results suggest that a low carb approach is a safe and effective treatment for the metabolic syndrome.
