Macro partitioning

In older Asian populations, a vegetable-based low-carbohydrate diet (high unsaturated fat/plant protein, low refined carbs) is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, whereas a meat-based low-carbohydrate diet (high saturated fat/animal protein, refined carbs) is associated with decreased mortality.

For older adults in Asian populations, simply reducing carbohydrates is not enough; the source of the remaining calories is critical. A 'vegetable-based' low-carb diet (emphasizing unsaturated fats and plant proteins while reducing refined carbs) was linked to higher mortality. Conversely, a 'meat-based' low-carb diet (emphasizing animal proteins and saturated fats) was linked to lower mortality. This suggests that for this demographic, replacing refined carbs with animal products may be beneficial, whereas replacing them with plant oils and proteins might not be, potentially due to cooking methods (high-heat frying of plant oils) or specific nutrient profiles.