Effects of weight loss during a very low carbohydrate diet on specific adipose tissue depots and insulin sensitivity in older adults with obesity: a randomized clinical trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine if a very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) promotes greater fat loss (total, visceral, and intermuscular), preserves lean mass, and improves insulin sensitivity compared to a standard low-fat diet (LFD) in older adults with obesity.
Results Summary
The VLCD group showed significantly greater reductions in total fat, visceral fat, and thigh intermuscular fat compared to the LFD group, along with improved insulin sensitivity, increased thigh skeletal muscle, and favorable changes in HDL-C and triglycerides.
Population
Adults aged 60-75 years with obesity (BMI 30-40 kg/m²).
Effective Dosage
VLCD (<10% energy from carbohydrates, 25% from protein, >65% from fat); LFD (55% carbohydrates, 25% protein, 20% fat).
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) | decrease | total fat | older adults with obesity | 9.7% | lost | #1 |
standard CHO-based/low-fat diet (LFD) | decrease | total fat | older adults with obesity | 2.0% | lost | #2 |
very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) | decrease | visceral adipose tissue (VAT) | older adults with obesity | 22.8% | greater loss in | #3 |
standard CHO-based/low-fat diet (LFD) | decrease | visceral adipose tissue (VAT) | older adults with obesity | 1.0% | loss in | #4 |
very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) | decrease | thigh intermuscular adipose tissue (thigh-IMAT) | older adults with obesity | 24.4% | greater decrease in | #5 |
standard CHO-based/low-fat diet (LFD) | decrease | thigh intermuscular adipose tissue (thigh-IMAT) | older adults with obesity | 1.0% | decrease in | #6 |
very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) | increase | thigh skeletal muscle (SM) | older adults with obesity | - | greater | #7 |
very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) | increase | insulin sensitivity | older adults with obesity | - | greater increases in | #8 |
very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) | increase | HDL-C | older adults with obesity | - | greater increases in | #9 |
very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) | decrease | fasting insulin | older adults with obesity | - | decreases in | #10 |
very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) | decrease | triglycerides | older adults with obesity | - | decreases in | #11 |
BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance and accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) place aging adults with obesity at high risk of cardio-metabolic disease. A very low carbohydrate diet (VLCD) may be a means of promoting fat loss from the visceral cavity and skeletal muscle, without compromising lean mass, and improve insulin sensitivity in aging adults with obesity. OBJECTIVE: To determine if a VLCD promotes a greater loss of fat (total, visceral and intermuscular), preserves lean mass, and improves insulin sensitivity compared to a standard CHO-based/low-fat diet (LFD) in older adults with obesity. DESIGN: Thirty-four men and women aged 60-75 years with obesity (body mass index [BMI] 30-40 kg/m2) were randomized to a diet prescription of either a VLCD (< 10:25:> 65% energy from CHO:protein:fat) or LFD diet (55:25:20) for 8 weeks. Body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), fat distribution by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), insulin sensitivity by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, and lipids by a fasting blood draw were assessed at baseline and after the intervention. RESULTS: Participants lost an average of 9.7 and 2.0% in total fat following the VLCD and LFD, respectively (p < 0.01). The VLCD group experienced ~ 3-fold greater loss in VAT compared to the LFD group (- 22.8% vs - 1.0%, p < 0.001) and a greater decrease in thigh-IMAT (- 24.4% vs - 1.0%, p < 0.01). The VLCD group also had significantly greater thigh skeletal muscle (SM) at 8 weeks following adjustment for change in total fat mass. Finally, the VLCD had greater increases in insulin sensitivity and HDL-C and decreases in fasting insulin and triglycerides compared to the LFD group. CONCLUSIONS: Weight loss resulting from consumption of a diet lower in CHO and higher in fat may be beneficial for older adults with obesity by depleting adipose tissue depots most strongly implicated in poor metabolic and functional outcomes and by improving insulin sensitivity and the lipid profile. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02760641. Registered 03 May 2016 - Retrospectively registered.