The Effect of a Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet on Laboratory Parameters in Women with Lipedema in Comparison to Overweight/Obese Women

Effect of a low-carbohydrate diet on pain and quality of life in female patients with lipedema: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) compared with a control diet on pain in female patients with lipedema. The secondary objectives were to compare the impact of the two diets on quality of life (QoL) and investigate potential associations of changes in pain with changes in body weight, body composition, and ketosis.

METHODS

Adult female patients with lipedema and obesity were randomized to either the LCD or control diet (energy prescription: 1200 kcal/day) for 8 weeks. Body weight and body composition, pain (Brief Pain Inventory measured pain), and QoL (RAND 36-Item Health Survey [RAND-36], Impact of Weight on Quality of Life [IWQOL]-Lite, and Lymphoedema Quality of Life [LYMQOL]) were measured at baseline and at postintervention.

RESULTS

A total of 70 female patients (age, mean [SD], 47 [11] years; BMI 37 [5] kg/m2) were included. The LCD group had greater weight loss (-2.8 kg; 95% CI: -4.1 to -1.0; p < 0.001) and larger reduction in pain now (-1.1; 95% CI: -1.9 to -0.3; p = 0.009) compared with the control group. No association was found between changes in pain now and weight loss. Both groups experienced improvements in several QoL dimensions.

CONCLUSIONS

Diet-induced weight loss in women with lipedema can improve QoL. An energy-restricted LCD seems to be superior to a standard control diet in reducing pain.

Expert consensus on nutrition and lower-carbohydrate diets: An evidence- and equity-based approach to dietary guidance

There is a substantial body of clinical evidence supporting the beneficial effects of lower-carbohydrate dietary patterns on multiple established risk factors associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases in adult populations. Nutrition and health researchers, clinical practitioners, and stakeholders gathered for, "The Scientific Forum on Nutrition, Wellness, and Lower-Carbohydrate Diets: An Evidence- and Equity-Based Approach to Dietary Guidance" to discuss the evidence base around lower-carbohydrate diets, health outcomes, and dietary guidance. Consensus statements were agreed upon to identify current areas of scientific agreement and spotlight gaps in research, education, and practice to help define and prioritize future pathways. Given the evidence base and considering that most American adults are living with at least one nutrition-related chronic disease, there was consensus that including a lower-carbohydrate dietary pattern as one part of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans could help promote health equity among the general population.

Preventive effect of low-carbohydrate high-fat dietary pattern on liver disease caused by alcohol consumption via a 6pgd-involved mechanism in mice

A low-carbohydrate high-fat (LCHF) dietary pattern has been reported to improve chronic metabolic diseases. However, whether and how the LCHF diet affects the pathological progression in patients with alcohol-related liver diseases (ALD) is largely unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of the LCHF diet on ALD and clarify its potential mechanism(s). The ALD model was established by feeding C57BL/6N mice with a Lieber-DeCarli liquid alcohol diet with a modified carbohydrate/fat ratio under an isoenergetic pattern. After an eight-week intervention, we observed that the LCHF diet significantly reduced alcohol-induced hepatic steatosis and liver injury, along with improved lipid metabolic-related gene disorders and redox imbalance. The alcohol-stimulated increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine cytokines expression, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, was markedly reversed by the LCHF diet. Liver transcriptome sequencing and qPCR validation showed that twenty-four alcohol-disturbed genes were significantly reversed by LCHF-diet intervention. The top differentially expressed genes were selected for further investigation. Among them, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) was significantly up-regulated by alcohol treatment in both the liver and cultured hepatocytes. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that 6PGD was positively associated with hepatic steatosis, liver injury, and oxidative stress indexes. In vitro, the 6PGD knockdown ameliorated alcohol-induced hepatotoxicity and intracellular lipid accumulation, as well as lipid metabolic-related gene disorders, implying the involvement of 6PGD in LCHF-protected ALD. In conclusion, LCHF diet intervention alleviated chronic alcohol consumption-induced liver dysfunction in mice. 6PGD is a potential novel target for ALD prevention that contributes to LCHF-improved ALD. A LCHF diet might be a promising choice for ALD management.

The Benefits of Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat (LCHF) Diet on Body Composition, Leg Volume, and Pain in Women with Lipedema

This study aimed to assess the potential benefits of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet on body composition, leg volume, and pain reduction in women with lipedema compared to overweight or women with obesity. The study included 113 female participants, 56 with lipedema and 57 with overweight/obesity (BMI >25 kg/m2) without lipedema. All subjects were prescribed a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet with anti-inflammatory properties to adhere to for a duration of 7 months. Measurements of anthropometry, body weight, composition, and pain (VAS) were conducted at the study's commencement and conclusion. 52 participants completed the study. Both groups experienced a similar weight reduction, amounting to 12.9% compared to the baseline (-10.8 kg vs. -11.9 kg; p = 0.14, for lipedema and women with overweight/obesity, respectively). The most reduction was in body fat mass. Improvements in various parameters were observed, except for ankle circumferences, which decreased more in the lipedema group. Lipedema participants showed significantly reduced pain levels following the LCHF diet (4.6 ± 2.6 vs 3.0 ± 2.3; p  <  0.001). The LCHF diet holds promise for weight loss, body fat reduction, leg volume management, and pain alleviation in women with lipedema. These findings provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for lipedema management.