Thursday, December 17, 2009

Another low carb study

Effects of a Low-intensity Intervention That Prescribed a Low-carbohydrate vs. a Low-fat Diet in Obese, Diabetic Participants


Low-carbohydrate diets have been associated with significant reductions in weight and HbA1c in obese, diabetic participants who received high-intensity lifestyle modification for 6 or 12 months. This investigation sought to determine whether comparable results to those of short-term, intensive interventions could be achieved over a 24-month study period using a low-intensity intervention that approximates what is feasible in outpatient practice. A total of 144 obese, diabetic participants were randomly assigned to a low-carbohydrate diet (<30 g/day) or to a low fat diet (≤30% of calories from fat with a deficit of 500 kcal/day). Participants were provided weekly group nutrition education sessions for the first month, and monthly sessions thereafter through the end of 24 months. Weight, HbA1c, glucose, and lipids were measured at baseline and 6, 12, and 24 months. Of the 144 enrolled participants, 68 returned for the month 24 assessment visit. Weights were retrieved from electronic medical records for an additional 57 participants (total, 125 participants) at month 24. All participants with a baseline measurement and at least one of the three other measurements were included in the mixed-model analyses (n = 138). The low-intensity intervention resulted in modest weight loss in both groups at month 24. At this time, participants in the low-carbohydrate group lost 1.5 kg, compared to 0.2 kg in the low-fat group (P = 0.147). Lipids, glycemic indexes, and dietary intake did not differ between groups at month 24 (or at months 6 or 12)

3 comments:

Robert said...

The 1.3kg difference could be from water. I wish they'd list what the low carb group ate. I'm going to guess a lot of vegetable oil loaded foods.

donny said...

I have to wonder how the weight loss was spread across the low carb patient population. That 1.5 kg lost on average for the low carb dieters may have come from a minority of the patients, for whom the intervention actually took. That's how it worked in that four diets study of the zone, dash atkins and ornish diets.

"This investigation sought to determine whether comparable results to those of short-term, intensive interventions could be achieved over a 24-month study period using a low-intensity intervention that approximates what is feasible in outpatient practice."

So half-assed low carb is no better than half-assed low fat? They didn't even show that a low intensity intervention can't work; just that their version didn't.

"My meaning simply is, that whatever I have tried to do in life, I have tried with all my heart to do well; that whatever I have devoted myself to, I have devoted myself to completely; that in great aims and in small, I have always been thoroughly in earnest." Charles Dickens, David Copperfield.

Beth said...

Yeesh. A half to 3 lbs in two years is "modest weight loss" -- surely they jest.

But it sure sounds like another good data point in the problems with diet compliance!