Low-Carb vs. Low-Fat Diet
A number of randomized clinical trials have compared weight loss after 6 months or a year after Low-carb diets vs. Low fat diets. At 6 months, there are differences in percent weight loss, with low-carb diets leading in percent loss. After one year, weight loss was similar between groups, but a low-carbohydrate diet was better with regard to dyslipidemia and glycemic control after adjustment for differences in weight loss.
The following table summarizes some of these studies.
|
Study |
Duration (months) |
% Wt. Loss Low-Carb |
% Wt Loss Low-Fat |
P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brehm J Clin Endo Metab 2003 |
6 |
-9.32 |
-4.22 |
<0.001 |
|
Samaha NEJM 2003 |
6 |
-4.46 |
-1.44 |
0.002 |
|
Yancy Ann int med 2004 |
6 |
-12.9 |
-6.7 |
<0.001 |
|
Foster NEJM 2003 |
6 |
-7.0 |
-3.2 |
0.02 |
|
12 |
-4.4 |
-2.5 |
0.26 NS |
|
|
Samaha Ann Int Med 2004 |
12 |
-3.9 |
-2.3 |
NS |
|
Truby BMJ 2006 |
6 |
-6.2 |
-7.3 |
<.001 |
|
Gardner JAMA 2007 (% BMI)* |
6 12 |
-2.16* -1.65* |
-0.85* -0.77* |
NS 0.01 |
|
Foster Ann Int Med 2010 |
12 24 |
-10.87 -6.34 |
-10.81 -7.37 |
0.95 NS 0.41 NS |