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Effects of dietary interventions on liver volume in humans
Author(s) -
Bian Hua,
Hakkarainen Antti,
Lundbom Nina,
YkiJärvinen Hannele
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1002/oby.20623
Subject(s) - weight loss , medicine , carbohydrate , endocrinology , overeating , lean body mass , proton magnetic resonance , body mass index , chemistry , zoology , body weight , obesity , biology , nuclear magnetic resonance , physics
Objective To compare effects of similar weight loss induced either by a short‐term low‐carbohydrate or by a long‐term hypocaloric diet, and to determine effects of high carbohydrate overfeeding on liver total, lean, and fat volumes. Methods Liver total, lean, and fat volumes were measured before and after (i) a 6‐day low‐carbohydrate diet ( n = 17), (ii) a 7‐month standard hypocaloric diet ( n = 26), and (iii) a 3‐week high‐carbohydrate diet ( n = 17), by combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H‐MRS) techniques. Results At baseline, three groups were comparable with respect to age, body mass index, liver volumes and the liver fat content. Body weight decreased similarly by the short‐term and long‐term hypocaloric diets. Liver total volume decreased significantly more during the short‐term low‐carbohydrate (−22 ± 2%) than the long‐term (−7 ± 2%) hypocaloric diet ( P < 0.001). This was due to a greater decrease in liver lean volume in the short‐term (−20 ± 2%) than the long‐term (−4 ± 2%) weight loss group ( P < 0.001). Decreases in liver fat were comparable. Liver volume increased by 9 ± 3% due to overfeeding ( P < 0.02 for before vs. after). Conclusions These data support the use of a short‐term low‐carbohydrate diet whenever a reduction in liver volume is desirable. Overeating carbohydrate is harmful because it increases liver volume.