Macro partitioning
Low-carbohydrate and very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets may offer short-term weight loss and triglyceride reduction for some individuals with obesity or diabetes, but long-term adherence is difficult and may increase LDL-C and mortality risk if animal-derived fats/proteins are prioritized over plant sources.
If you choose a low-carb diet for weight loss or triglyceride management, limit it to 2-6 months. Ensure you get fiber from vegetables and plant proteins, and transition to a balanced diet (like Mediterranean or DASH) afterward to avoid long-term cardiovascular risks associated with high animal fat intake.
People with overweight/obesity who also have diabetes and/or elevated TG may benefit from following a hypocaloric low-CHO and very-low-CHO diet for two to six months... However, for the long-term (>6 months), the results from the low-CHO diet... were not sustained... Long-term dietary patterns with low-CHO intake along with high animal-derived fat/protein intake may increase LDL-C and are associated with increased cardiac and non-cardiac mortality
Why this rating
Based on prospective cohort studies (ARIC) and meta-analyses, but observational data has inherent limitations.
Source
Top 10 dietary strategies for atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk reduction
Geeta Sikand et al. · American Journal of Preventive Cardiology · 2020
DOI 10.1016/j.ajpc.2020.100106
More from this paper
- Replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fats (PUFA/MUFA) significantly reduces cardiovascular disease risk and all-cause mortality, whereas replacing saturated fat with refined carbohydrates does not improve overall cardiovascular risk.Good
- Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) provided by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) significantly improves cardiometabolic risk factors (LDL-C, TG, BMI, BP, HbA1c) and reduces medication costs in patients with dyslipidemia and cardiometabolic risk.Good
Related findings · Macro partitioning
- Total daily protein intake of 1.6 g/kg/day is sufficient for maximizing resistance training-induced muscle gains, with an upper confidence interval of 2.2 g/kg/day.Strong
- Resistance exercise training combined with sufficient dietary protein intake acts synergistically to maximize skeletal muscle hypertrophy, with protein intake saturating around 1.6 g/kg/day for general populations and potentially requiring 2.0-2.2 g/kg/day for resistance-trained individuals.Strong
- Trans fats should be completely eliminated from the diet, as they increase LDL cholesterol, decrease HDL cholesterol, and are directly associated with increased coronary risk.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →