Energy balance
A 12-week low-calorie diet inducing mild weight loss (approx. 4.8% body weight) significantly increases plasma levels of medium- and long-chain acylcarnitines (e.g., hexanoylcarnitine, octanoylcarnitine) in overweight adults, a change that negatively correlates with reductions in visceral fat area.
For overweight individuals, a sustainable, mild caloric deficit (approx. 300 kcal/day, roughly one-third of a bowl of rice per meal) sustained over 12 weeks is sufficient to reduce visceral fat and increase markers of fatty acid oxidation (acylcarnitines). You do not need extreme restriction to see metabolic benefits; consistency with a modest deficit works.
Mild weight loss from 12-week calorie restriction increased the plasma levels of medium- and long-chain ACs. These changes were coupled with a decrease in VFA and an increase in free fatty acids.
Why this rating
Randomized controlled trial with a control group, objective metabolomic measurements, and statistical correction for multiple comparisons (FDR).
Source
Metabolomics identifies increases in the acylcarnitine profiles in the plasma of overweight subjects in response to mild weight loss: a randomized, controlled design study
Miso Kang et al. · Lipids in Health and Disease · 2018
DOI 10.1186/s12944-018-0887-1
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