Macro partitioning
Long-term adherence to a high-quality low-carbohydrate diet (HQ-LCDS) is associated with favorable changes in HDL cholesterol and triglycerides, whereas a low-quality low-carbohydrate diet (LQ-LCDS) is associated with adverse changes in fasting glucose.
If you follow a low-carbohydrate diet, ensure the carbohydrates you do eat are high-quality (high fiber, whole foods). Avoid replacing healthy carbs with refined grains or added sugars, as this can negatively impact blood glucose levels. Prioritizing high-quality carbs in your low-carb pattern improves HDL and lowers triglycerides.
Higher HQ-LCDS was associated with a greater annual increase in HDL cholesterol concentrations (mg/dL/y) (0.51, 0.68; 0.005) and greater annual decline in triglyceride concentrations (mg/dL/y) (-1.24, -1.99; <0.001). ... The association between LQ-LCDS and mean annual increase in glucose concentration showed a marginally significant positive association (Ptrend =0.05)
Why this rating
Longitudinal prospective cohort study with a large sample size (n=3,294) and long follow-up (median 16.4 years), though observational design limits causal inference compared to RCTs.
Source
Impact of carbohydrate quality on the association between low-carbohydrate diet scores and longitudinal changes of cardiometabolic risk factors
Ghaida F Aloraini et al. · Nutrition Journal · 2025
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