Diet and nutritionLow-Carbohydrate Diets — Do They Raise Cholesterol, and Is That Dangerous?
Sources: 10 · Article: 12 994 characters
Bracia Rodzeń cites a review in which a low-carbohydrate diet did not cause a significant increase in LDL.
- Other summaries by Bracia Rodzeń point to increased HDL, lower triglycerides, and improvements in some heart disease risk factors.
- However, the report on a study of people with diabetes noted elevated LDL, probably due to high saturated fat intake.
- Grażyna Cichosz and Henryk Różański warn that saturated fats may raise cholesterol, and Henryk Różański also links them to a higher risk of coronary heart disease.
What the authors write
Bracia Rodzeń
A review of eight studies found no significant increase in LDL on a low-carbohydrate diet, while HDL increased and triglycerides decreased.
„LINK – leads to source
Hellon 2019. They assessed 8 RCTs and found that low-carbohydrate diets did not lead to a significant increase in LDL, but increased HDL and lowered TG.
Nutrition Reviews 2019: Effect of a carbohydrate-restricted diet on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
LINK – leads to source
Huntris 2017.”LINK – przenosi do źródła
Hellon 2019. Ocenili 8 RCT, w których stwierdzono, że diety niskowęglowodanowe nie prowadzą do znaczącego wzrostu LDL, ale zwiększają HDL i niższe TG.
Nutrition Reviews 2019: Wpływ diety ograniczającej węglowodany na poziom cholesterolu lipoprotein o niskiej gęstości u dorosłych z nadwagą i otyłością: przegląd systematyczny i metaanaliza
LINK – przenosi do źródła
Huntris 2017.
prof. David Ludwig
In one study of people with diabetes, LDL was elevated, probably due to high saturated fat intake, despite good results for the other cardiovascular risk factors.
„And overall, cardiovascular risk factors were excellent, with a triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol ratio of 1.0, indicative of exceptionally low insulin resistance (though LDL cholesterol was elevated, probably due to high saturated fat consumption).
These findings suggest that a low-carbohydrate diet might help prevent the long-term complications of diabetes — a possibility that needs to be explored in high quality randomized-controlled trials.”And overall, cardiovascular risk factors were excellent, with a triglyceride to HDL-cholesterol ratio of 1.0, indicative of exceptionally low insulin resistance (though LDL cholesterol was elevated, probably due to high saturated fat consumption).
These findings suggest that a low-carbohydrate diet might help prevent the long-term complications of diabetes — a possibility that needs to be explored in high quality randomized-controlled trials.
Bracia Rodzeń
A study comparing low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets found greater improvements in HDL, triglycerides, and other cardiovascular risk factors in the low-carbohydrate group.
„In addition to losing 3.5 kg more than the low-fat group, the low-carbohydrate group also had greater improvements in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and other cardiovascular risk factors.
LINK – leads to source
Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN diets for weight change and related risk factors among overweight premenopausal women.”Oprócz utraty 3,5 kg więcej niż grupa o niskiej zawartości tłuszczu, grupa niskowęglowodanowa miała również większą poprawę w zakresie cholesterolu o wysokiej gęstości (HDL), trójglicerydów (TG) i innych czynników ryzyka chorób układu krążenia.
LINK – przenosi do źródła
Porównanie diet Atkins, Zone, Ornish i LEARN pod kątem zmiany wagi i powiązanych czynników ryzyka u kobiet przed menopauzą z nadwagą.
Bracia Rodzeń
Reviews of studies comparing diets found lower triglycerides and higher HDL when carbohydrate intake was restricted.
„LINK – leads to source
Mansoor 2016. They assessed 11 RCTs and found that restricting carbohydrates led to greater weight loss, lower TG, and higher HDL compared with low-fat diets.
British Journal of Nutrition 2016: Effects of low-carbohydrate diets on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors compared with low-fat diets: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
LINK – leads to source
Sackner 2015.”LINK – przenosi do źródła
Mansoor 2016. Ocenili 11 RCT i stwierdzili, że ograniczanie węglowodanów prowadzi do większej utraty wagi, obniżenia TG i wyższego HDL w porównaniu z dietami niskotłuszczowymi.
British Journal of Nutrition 2016: Wpływ diet niskowęglowodanowych na masę ciała i czynniki ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego, w porównaniu do diet niskotłuszczowych: metaanaliza randomizowanych badań kontrolowanych
LINK – przenosi do źródła
Sackner 2015.
Bracia Rodzeń
A review of major low-carbohydrate diet studies reported improvements in major heart disease risk factors.
„Effect of a low-fat diet compared with other dietary interventions on long-term weight change in adults
LINK – leads to source
A 2012 review of all major low-carbohydrate diet studies shows both weight loss and improvements in major heart disease risk factors:
Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials examining the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on cardiovascular risk factors
LINK – leads to source
At least 31 modern randomized clinical trials show significantly greater weight loss with low-carbohydrate diets.”Wpływ diety niskotłuszczowej w porównaniu z innymi interwencjami dietetycznymi na długoterminową zmianę masy ciała u dorosłych
LINK – przenosi do źródła
Przegląd wszystkich głównych badań diet niskowęglowodanowych z 2012 roku pokazuje zarówno zmniejszenie masy ciała, jak i poprawę głównych czynników ryzyka chorób serca:
Systematyczny przegląd i metaanaliza badań klinicznych nad wpływem diety niskowęglowodanowej na czynniki ryzyka sercowo-naczyniowego
LINK – przenosi do źródła
Istnieje co najmniej 31 nowoczesnych Randomizowanych Badań Klinicznych, które wykazują znacznie lepszą utratę wagi dzięki dietom niskowęglowodanowym.
Bracia Rodzeń
A meta-analysis on type 2 diabetes found improvements in HDL, triglycerides, and blood pressure with a low-carbohydrate diet.
„LINK – leads to source
A 2017 meta-analysis found that a low-carbohydrate diet reduced the need for medication and improved measures of metabolic health (HbA1c, HDL, TG, and blood pressure). The authors concluded: “Reducing carbohydrate intake may offer clinical improvements in the management of type 2 diabetes”:
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2017: Interpretation and impact of a low-carbohydrate diet in the management of type 2 diabetes.”LINK – przenosi do źródła
Metaanaliza z 2017 roku wykazała, że dieta niskowęglowodanowa spowodowała zmniejszenie zapotrzebowania na leki i poprawę wskaźników zdrowia metabolicznego (HbA1c, HDL, TG i ciśnienia krwi). Autorzy doszli do wniosku, że: „Zmniejszenie ilości węglowodanów w diecie może przynieść kliniczną poprawę w leczeniu cukrzycy typu 2”:
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2017: Interpretacja i wpływ diety niskowęglowoda-nowej w leczeniu cukrzycy typu 2.
Grażyna Cichosz
Grażyna Cichosz states that a diet high in animal fats may raise total cholesterol, as well as LDL and HDL to a similar degree.
„It is true that a diet high in animal fats poses a risk of hypercholesterolemia. However, this diet raises total cholesterol and increases both LDL and HDL cholesterol by the same amount, so the LDL-to-HDL ratio remains unchanged.”Prawdą jest, że dieta bogata w tłuszcze zwierzęce stanowi zagrożenie hipercholesterolemią. Jednakże dieta ta powoduje wzrost cholesterolu ogółem oraz taki sam wzrost stężenia cholesterolu frakcji LDL jak też frakcji HDL, przez co proporcje LDL do HDL pozostają nie zmienione.
Henryk Różański
Henryk Różański states that saturated fats increase LDL and the risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.
„Saturated fatty acids increase LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins) in plasma and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease. It is now recommended that saturated fat intake be kept at 10% of energy.
Monounsaturated fatty acids, e.g.”Kwasy nasycone zwiększają LDL (Low Density Lipoproteins) w osoczu i zwiększają ryzyko cukrzycy typu 2 oraz choroby wieńcowej. Obecnie zaleca się utrzymywanie spożycia tłuszczów z kwasami nasyconymi na poziomie 10% energii.
Kwasy tłuszczowe jednonienasycone, np.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 3 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 646.
A review indicates that low-carbohydrate diets may improve some metabolic measures, but raises concerns about a sustained increase in LDL and ApoB, especially when animal products are the main source of nutrients.
Aim of the study: Diet ranks among the most modifiable determinants of cardiovascular disease risk, yet the evidence base is vast, conflicting, and burdened by observational confounding. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on controversial dietary components and established heart-healthy dietary patterns.
Results: Low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets improve select metabolic parameters but raise concern for sustained LDL-C and apolipoprotein B elevation, particularly with animal-derived macronutrient substitution. Omega-3 supplementation reduces coronary heart disease and myocardial infarction risk dose-dependently; atrial fibrillation risk is confined to high-dose formulations in high-risk populations. The Mediterranean and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets carry the most robust evidence for cardiovascular risk reduction; the Portfolio diet provides effective non-pharmacologic lipid lowering. Overall dietary pattern quality predicts cardiovascular risk more reliably than any single food or nutrient.
Money for the studynot stated
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studydiscussion of other studies
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In a one-year study, a low-carbohydrate diet lowered the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL and triglycerides, and increased HDL compared with a low-fat diet.
Aim of the study: Low-carbohydrate diets are popular for weight loss, but their cardiovascular effects have not been well-studied, particularly in diverse populations. To examine the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet compared with a low-fat diet on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors.
Results: Sixty participants (82%) in the low-fat group and 59 (79%) in the low-carbohydrate group completed the intervention. At 12 months, participants on the low-carbohydrate diet had greater decreases in weight (mean difference in change, -3.5 kg [95% CI, -5.6 to -1.4 kg]; P = 0.002), fat mass (mean difference in change, -1.5% [CI, -2.6% to -0.4%]; P = 0.011), ratio of total-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (mean difference in change, -0.44 [CI, -0.71 to -0.16]; P = 0.002), and triglyceride level (mean difference in change, -0.16 mmol/L [-14.1 mg/dL] [CI, -0.31 to -0.01 mmol/L {-27.4 to -0.8 mg/dL}]; P = 0.038) and greater increases in HDL cholesterol level (mean difference in change, 0.18 mmol/L [7.0 mg/dL] [CI, 0.08 to 0.28 mmol/L {3.0 to 11.0 mg/dL}]; P < 0.001) than those on the low-fat diet. The low-carbohydrate diet was more effective for weight loss and cardiovascular risk factor reduction than the low-fat diet.
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · NCRR NIH HHS, NIGMS NIH HHS
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studystudy with random allocation to groups (RCT)
Participants148
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In this study, the very-low-carbohydrate diet did not differ from the diets it was compared with in LDL or apolipoprotein B, but it improved some measures of liver metabolism.
Aim of the study: The influence of diet macronutrient content on the cardiometabolic effects of weight loss in people with metabolically unhealthy obesity (prediabetes and hepatic steatosis) has important clinical implications. We evaluated the cardiometabolic effects of moderate (∼10%) weight loss induced by three popular diets with markedly different macronutrient composition (very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic, Mediterranean, and very-low-fat plant-forward).
Results: Intrahepatic triglyceride content, hepatic de novo lipogenesis, glycated hemoglobin, and 24-h serial plasma glucose and insulin decreased most in the very-low-carbohydrate group. There were no differences among groups in LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, or 24-h plasma triglyceride concentrations. These results demonstrate that a very-low-carbohydrate diet has greater cardiometabolic benefits, particularly in hepatic metabolic function, than matched 10% weight loss induced by a Mediterranean or very-low-fat diet in people with metabolically unhealthy obesity. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02706262).
Money for the studygovernment, public institutions · NIH HHS, NCATS NIH HHS, Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Do the authors have ties to companies?not stated
Did a manufacturer help with the study?unknown
Type of studystudy with random allocation to groups (RCT)
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Cholesterol Is Not the Root Cause of ASCVD Our recent analysis (2) shows that elevated cholesterol is not the root cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but rather an intermediary step that can accelerate the process but not initiate it. While cholesterol, particularly LDL, has long been emphasized in ASCVD management, our work highlights that factors such as chronic inflammation, usually from oral cavity infections, oxidative stress, diet, environmental toxins, and nutrient deficiencies are the foundational drivers of ASCVD.”Cholesterol Is Not the Root Cause of ASCVD Our recent analysis (2) shows that elevated cholesterol is not the root cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), but rather an intermediary step that can accelerate the process but not initiate it. While cholesterol, particularly LDL, has long been emphasized in ASCVD management, our work highlights that factors such as chronic inflammation, usually from oral cavity infections, oxidative stress, diet, environmental toxins, and nutrient deficiencies are the foundational drivers of ASCVD.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„Grundy, Mok, Zechs and Berman (1981) found it lowered cholesterol by 22 percent and triglycerides by 52 percent and wrote, "To our knowledge, no other single agent has such potential for lowering both cholesterol and triglycerides." Elevated cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of developing coronary disease. In addition to niacin, a typical diet generally recommended by orthomolecular physicians will tend to keep cholesterol levels down in most people. This diet can be described as a high fiber, sugar-free diet which is rich in complex polysaccharides such as vegetables and whole grains.”Grundy, Mok, Zechs and Berman (1981) found it lowered cholesterol by 22 percent and triglycerides by 52 percent and wrote, "To our knowledge, no other single agent has such potential for lowering both cholesterol and triglycerides." Elevated cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of developing coronary disease. In addition to niacin, a typical diet generally recommended by orthomolecular physicians will tend to keep cholesterol levels down in most people. This diet can be described as a high fiber, sugar-free diet which is rich in complex polysaccharides such as vegetables and whole grains.
Orthomolecular Medicine News Service Opinion material
„However, the impact of carbohydrates on lipid metabolism is complex, with some studies suggesting that low-carbohydrate diets may have beneficial effects on atherogenic dyslipidemia (10). Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets (KDs) have shown promising effects in improving metabolic disorders, particularly dyslipidemia. KDs can lead to significant reductions in triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, while increasing HDL cholesterol (11,12). These diets have been found to improve insulin sensitivity, reverse atherogenic dyslipidemia, and reduce inflammatory biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease (13,14).”However, the impact of carbohydrates on lipid metabolism is complex, with some studies suggesting that low-carbohydrate diets may have beneficial effects on atherogenic dyslipidemia (10). Low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets (KDs) have shown promising effects in improving metabolic disorders, particularly dyslipidemia. KDs can lead to significant reductions in triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol, while increasing HDL cholesterol (11,12). These diets have been found to improve insulin sensitivity, reverse atherogenic dyslipidemia, and reduce inflammatory biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease (13,14).
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