Research

Macro partitioning

Low-carbohydrate diets (defined as <40% energy) improve short-term cardiovascular risk markers, specifically reducing triglycerides and increasing HDL, compared to low-fat diets, but these benefits diminish or become insignificant after 24 months.

If you switch to a low-carb diet (under 40% of calories), you will likely see improved cholesterol markers (lower triglycerides, higher HDL) and weight loss within the first 6 months. However, these specific lipid benefits tend to fade after 2 years, and LDL cholesterol might rise slightly. Because long-term adherence is difficult, consider focusing on high-quality carbohydrates (fiber, whole grains) if you cannot sustain strict low-carb intake.

GoodQualifiesHIGH confidence
Dietas com baixo teor de carboidratos podem ser eficazes para perda de peso e promovem benefícios nos marcadores de risco cardiovascular a curto prazo, com um aumento nos níveis de HDL. No entanto, quando se trata de triglicerídeos, os resultados são controversos.
Nikolly Fabiana Dias de Avelar et al. · Revista Eletrônica Acervo Saúde · 2023

Why this rating

Based on a review of 10 studies including RCTs and meta-analyses with a large combined sample size (n=17,879).

Source

Associação entre carboidratos, triglicerídeos e doenças cardiovasculares

Nikolly Fabiana Dias de Avelar et al. · Revista Eletrônica Acervo Saúde · 2023

narrative_review · n=17879
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