Long-term effects of ad-libitum low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets on body weight and serum lipid in overweight subjects with metabolic syndrome.

High consumption of low-fat, high complex carbohydrate diets is associated with healthy weight and lipid profile in overweight metabolic syndrome patients.

This study examined the long-term effects of low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets on the body mass index and lipid profile of overweight metabolic syndrome patients. Researchers fed 46 metabolic syndrome patients with either low-fat, complex carbohydrate diets (the LF-CC group), low-fat, simple carbohydrate diets (the LF-SC group), or a control diet for 6 months. The body weight, blood pressure, and plasma lipid levels of all the subjects were measured every 2 months throughout the duration of the study.

Researchers observed a higher percentage of weight loss in subjects fed with low-fat, complex carbohydrate diets than in patients in the other two groups. A significant decrease in plasma levels of total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was found in all the groups. According to this study, patients on low-fat, simple carbohydrate had higher plasma content of triacylglycerol than subjects in the LF-CC and control groups. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that diets rich in complex carbohydrates and low in fat may promote weight loss and improve the lipid profile of overweight metabolic syndrome patients.