PROP Nontaster Women Lose More Weight Following a Low-Carbohydrate Versus a Low-Fat Diet in a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether PROP nontaster (NT) women would lose more weight on a low-carbohydrate (LC) diet than a low-fat (LF) diet and whether PROP supertaster (ST) women would lose more weight on a LF diet than a LC diet.
Results Summary
PROP nontaster women lost significantly more weight on the LC diet compared to the LF diet, while PROP supertaster women showed no significant difference in weight loss between the two diets. The study also found that dietary self-reports were unrelated to weight loss, and a LC diet was associated with greater self-efficacy.
Population
107 women with a BMI of 34.8 ± 0.5 kg/m², classified as PROP nontasters (n=47) and supertasters (n=60).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | decrease | weight | PROP nontaster (NT) women | -8.5 ± 0.5 kg vs. -6.6 ± 0.5 kg | lost more weight | #1 |
low-fat (LF) diet | decrease | weight | PROP nontaster (NT) women | -6.6 ± 0.5 kg vs. -8.5 ± 0.5 kg | lost less weight | #2 |
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | no change | weight | PROP supertaster (ST) women | -8.8 ± 0.4 vs. -8.9 ± 0.5 | no difference in weight loss | #3 |
low-fat (LF) diet | no change | weight | PROP supertaster (ST) women | -8.9 ± 0.5 vs. -8.8 ± 0.4 | no difference in weight loss | #4 |
dietary self-reports | no change | weight loss | women | - | were unrelated to | #5 |
prescription of a LC diet | increase | self-efficacy | women | - | associated with greater | #6 |
OBJECTIVE: Taste blindness to 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) associates with increased fat preference and intake. No studies have matched a diet to a woman's PROP phenotype to improve weight loss. This study investigated (1) whether PROP nontaster (NT) women would lose more weight following a low-carbohydrate (LC) diet than a low-fat (LF) diet, and (2) whether PROP supertaster (ST) women would lose more weight following a LF diet than a LC diet. METHODS: One hundred seven women (BMI = 34.8 ± 0.5 kg/m2 ), classified as PROP NTs (n = 47) and STs (n = 60), were randomized to a LC or LF diet within a 6-month lifestyle intervention. Assessments included 4-day dietary recalls and biobehavioral and psychosocial questionnaires. RESULTS: At 6 months, NTs lost more weight following the LC than the LF diet (-8.5 ± 0.5 kg vs. -6.6 ± 0.5 kg, P = 0.008); there was no difference between STs following either diet (-8.8 ± 0.4 vs. -8.9 ± 0.5, P = 0.35). Dietary self-reports were unrelated to weight loss, and prescription of a LC diet associated with greater self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: NT women lost more weight following the LC diet compared to the LF diet. Screening for PROP phenotype may help personalize diet therapy for NT women to optimize their short-term weight loss.