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Low-carbohydrate diet bested standard calorie restriction for lowering glucose levels, weight loss
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SAN ANTONIO — Adhering to a strict, low-carbohydrate diet 2 days per week led to greater reductions in weight and insulin levels when compared with standard daily dieting, according to data presented here.
"Weight loss and reduced insulin levels are required for breast cancer prevention, but [these levels] are difficult to achieve and maintain with conventional dietary approaches," Michelle Harvie, PhD, registered dietitian at the Genesis Prevention Center at the University Hospital in South Manchester, England, said in a press release.
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To investigate the efficacy and feasibility of two intermittent, low-carbohydrate diets, Harvie and colleagues randomly assigned 115 overweight or obese women at increased risk for breast cancer to three different diets for 4 months: a low-carbohydrate, restricted calorie diet for 2 days per week; an "ad lib" low-carbohydrate diet that included other foods such as protein for 2 days per week; and a standard daily restricted Mediterranean diet.
Compared with the 2.4-kg weight loss experienced by patients in the standard diet group (95% CI, 1.2-3.4), patients in the restricted low-carbohydrate diet group and those in the ad lib low-carbohydrate diet lost 4.3 kg (95% CI, 3-5.6) and 4.1 kg (95% CI, 3.1-5.2), respectively, the researchers said.
"It is interesting that the diet that only restricts carbohydrates, but allows proteins and fats, is as effective as the calorie-restricted, low-carbohydrate diet," Harvie said.
Additionally, patients in the intermittent, low-carbohydrate diet study arms demonstrated greater reductions in insulin resistance vs. those in the standard diet arm. Mean difference from baseline to study conclusion was 22% for patients in the restricted-calorie group and 14% in the ad lib group vs. 4% in the standard diet group, according to the data.
"Greater weight loss, fewer dropouts and greater reductions in insulin resistance with the novel intermittent and low-carbohydrate diets indicate that these are alternative approaches for energy restriction for potentially reducing risk for breast cancer and other diseases," the researchers concluded.
For more information:
- Harvie MN. #P3-09-02. Presented at: the 2011 CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; Dec. 6-10, 2011; San Antonio.
Disclosure: Dr. Harvie reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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