The Effects of Different Degrees of Carbohydrate Restriction and Carbohydrate Replacement on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Humans—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) often differ in their diet composition, which may lead to conflicting results between randomized controlled trials. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of different degrees of carbohydrate (CHO) restriction on cardiometabolic risk markers in humans. The experimen...
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/991 |
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| author | Eva Fechner Ellen T.H.C. Smeets Patrick Schrauwen Ronald P. Mensink |
| author_facet | Eva Fechner Ellen T.H.C. Smeets Patrick Schrauwen Ronald P. Mensink |
| author_sort | Eva Fechner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) often differ in their diet composition, which may lead to conflicting results between randomized controlled trials. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of different degrees of carbohydrate (CHO) restriction on cardiometabolic risk markers in humans. The experimental LCDs of 37 human trials were classified as (1) moderate-low CHO diets (<45–40 E%, <i>n</i> = 13), (2) low CHO diets (<40–30 E%, <i>n</i> = 16), and (3) very-low CHO diets (<30–3 E%; <i>n</i> = 8). Summary estimates of weighted mean differences (WMDs) in selected risk markers were calculated using random-effect meta-analyses. Differences between the LCD groups were assessed with univariate meta-regression analyses. Overall, the LCDs resulted in significant weight loss, reduced diastolic blood pressure BP, and increased total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), without significant differences between the three LCD groups. Higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were found with the very-low CHO diets compared to the moderate-low CHO diets. Decreases in triacylglycerol (TAG) concentrations were more pronounced with the low and very-low CHO diets, compared to the moderate-low CHO diets. Substitution of CHO by mainly saturated fatty acids (SFAs) increased total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C concentrations. Except for LDL-C and TAGs, effects were not related to the degree of CHO restriction. Potential effects of nutrient exchanges should be considered when following LCDs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:43:04Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:43:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-89bbd9372f614d679a5248fb3feed47a2023-11-19T20:30:47ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432020-04-0112499110.3390/nu12040991The Effects of Different Degrees of Carbohydrate Restriction and Carbohydrate Replacement on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Humans—A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisEva Fechner0Ellen T.H.C. Smeets1Patrick Schrauwen2Ronald P. Mensink3Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University Medical Center, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The NetherlandsLow-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) often differ in their diet composition, which may lead to conflicting results between randomized controlled trials. Therefore, we aimed to compare the effects of different degrees of carbohydrate (CHO) restriction on cardiometabolic risk markers in humans. The experimental LCDs of 37 human trials were classified as (1) moderate-low CHO diets (<45–40 E%, <i>n</i> = 13), (2) low CHO diets (<40–30 E%, <i>n</i> = 16), and (3) very-low CHO diets (<30–3 E%; <i>n</i> = 8). Summary estimates of weighted mean differences (WMDs) in selected risk markers were calculated using random-effect meta-analyses. Differences between the LCD groups were assessed with univariate meta-regression analyses. Overall, the LCDs resulted in significant weight loss, reduced diastolic blood pressure BP, and increased total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), without significant differences between the three LCD groups. Higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations were found with the very-low CHO diets compared to the moderate-low CHO diets. Decreases in triacylglycerol (TAG) concentrations were more pronounced with the low and very-low CHO diets, compared to the moderate-low CHO diets. Substitution of CHO by mainly saturated fatty acids (SFAs) increased total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C concentrations. Except for LDL-C and TAGs, effects were not related to the degree of CHO restriction. Potential effects of nutrient exchanges should be considered when following LCDs.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/991meta-analysisadultsrandomized controlled trialslow-carbohydrate dietsLCDcarbohydrate restriction |
| spellingShingle | Eva Fechner Ellen T.H.C. Smeets Patrick Schrauwen Ronald P. Mensink The Effects of Different Degrees of Carbohydrate Restriction and Carbohydrate Replacement on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Humans—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Nutrients meta-analysis adults randomized controlled trials low-carbohydrate diets LCD carbohydrate restriction |
| title | The Effects of Different Degrees of Carbohydrate Restriction and Carbohydrate Replacement on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Humans—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full | The Effects of Different Degrees of Carbohydrate Restriction and Carbohydrate Replacement on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Humans—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Different Degrees of Carbohydrate Restriction and Carbohydrate Replacement on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Humans—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Different Degrees of Carbohydrate Restriction and Carbohydrate Replacement on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Humans—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_short | The Effects of Different Degrees of Carbohydrate Restriction and Carbohydrate Replacement on Cardiometabolic Risk Markers in Humans—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis |
| title_sort | effects of different degrees of carbohydrate restriction and carbohydrate replacement on cardiometabolic risk markers in humans a systematic review and meta analysis |
| topic | meta-analysis adults randomized controlled trials low-carbohydrate diets LCD carbohydrate restriction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/4/991 |
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