Research
Macro partitioning
Ketogenic diets (≤10% carbs) produce greater weight loss but also greater increases in LDL and total cholesterol compared to moderate-carb diets (26-45% carbs).
If you choose a strict ketogenic diet (under 10% carbs), expect greater weight loss but also a significant rise in LDL and total cholesterol. If you want a balance of weight loss and heart health markers, a moderate-carb diet (26-45% carbs) might be a better choice.
StrongQualifiesHIGH confidence
Moderate-carbohydrate diets offered balanced benefits, whereas ketogenic diets produced greater weight loss but greater increases in LDL and total cholesterol.
Why this rating
Derived from subgroup analysis of 174 RCTs.
Source
Effects of carbohydrate-restricted diets and macronutrient replacements on cardiovascular health and body composition in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized trials
Shuo Feng et al. · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · 2025
DOI 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.09.012
Meta-analysis · 174 studiesCited 4×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
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