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Weight loss from moderate and low carbohydrate diets results in distinctive plasma ghrelin responses
Author(s) -
Wood Richard J,
Volek Jeff S,
Vaishnav Ushma,
Lofgren Ingrid,
Fernandez Maria Luz
Publication year - 2007
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.21.5.a100-b
Subject(s) - ghrelin , endocrinology , weight loss , medicine , waist , carbohydrate , leptin , overweight , obesity , chemistry , hormone
Plasma ghrelin levels were assessed after a 12 hour fast in men and pre‐menopausal women following two weight loss diets differing in carbohydrate content. In the first study, overweight and obese women (BMI 25–37 kg/m2) were provided a moderate carbohydrate diet [(MCD) 40% carbohydrate, 30% fat, 30% protein] and progressively increased their steps taken per day as measured by a pedometer for 10 weeks. In the second study, overweight and obese men (BMI 27–35 kg/m2) consumed a carbohydrate restricted diet [(CRD) 10–15% carbohydrate, 60% fat, 30–35% protein) for 12 weeks. The CRD resulted in 7.9, 7.8 and 19.6% reductions in body weight, waist circumference and trunk fat, respectively while the MCD reduced body weight by 4.5%, waist circumference by 6.4% and trunk fat by 4.6%. Plasma ghrelin levels were not changed with the CRD, but increased by 17% (P < 0.001) following the MCD. In agreement with these observations of weight loss not affecting plasma ghrelin concentration in the CRD group, hunger and satiety were not changed over time. In the MCD group ghrelin concentrations observed after weight loss were negatively correlated with both leptin (r = −0.278, P< 0.05) and insulin (r= −0.378, P< 0.01) post‐intervention. These studies suggest that the CRD modulated the insulin‐ghrelin metabolic responses associated with weight loss and resulted in a more beneficial effect on weight and anthropometrics than a MCD.