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Weight loss induced by a carbohydrate restricted diet favorably affects markers of inflammation and heart disease without increasing plasma homocysteine concentrations
Author(s) -
Fernandez MariaLuz,
Wood Richard J,
Dell’Ova Carly,
Davis Steven,
Volek Jeff
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a426-b
Subject(s) - homocysteine , inflammation , plasma homocysteine , disease , weight loss , carbohydrate , plasma concentration , medicine , endocrinology , obesity
Carbohydrate restricted (CR) diets have been shown to improve standard features of metabolic syndrome, but little work has examined the effect on nontraditional risk factors such as homocysteine, inflammatory markers, and Lp (a). Twenty‐nine overweight men consumed a CR diet (~10% carbohydrate, 65% fat, 25% protein) for 12 wk and a standard multivitamin every other day. Intake of macronutrients, vitamins and trans fatty acids were analyzed at baseline and post‐intervention by use of 7‐day dietary records. Compared to baseline, kcal intake was significantly reduced (−30.5%), as was bodyweight (−7.5 ± 2.5kg). Protein intake increased significantly from baseline (96.2 ± 29.8g) to wk 12 (107.3 ± 29.7g), which partially accounted for the increased methionine intake (baseline 2.25 ± 0.7g, wk 12: 2.71 ±.78g) (P < 0.001). Despite increases in dietary methionine and no increase in dietary folate between baseline and 12 wk, fasting plasma homocysteine and cysteine were unchanged. TNF‐alpha concentrations were significantly reduced from 1.23 ± 0.26 to 1.14 ± 0.30 ng/L after 12 wk. There was a decrease in Lp (a) from baseline (17.9 ± 10.3 mg/dL) to 12 wk (15.8 ± 9.2 mg/dL) (P < 0.005). This is noteworthy because diet is generally believed to have little effect on Lp (a). We conclude that a weight loss intervention based on CHO restriction had multiple beneficial effects on nontraditional risk factors related to inflammation, arteriosclerosis and thrombosis.