Overweight individuals who secrete insulin at a higher level may experience greater weight loss by selecting a low-glycemic load diet, compared to a low-fat diet, according to a study in the May 16 issue of JAMA. The researchers also found a low-glycemic load diet to have beneficial effects on HDL cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations.
"With prevalence approaching one-third of the population, obesity is among the most important medical problems in the United States and identification of effective dietary treatment has become a major public health priority. Three popular dietslow fat, low carbohydrate, and low glycemic loadhave recently received much attention. However, clinical trials have produced inconsistent findings, with some suggesting that one diet is superior for weight loss and others indicating no difference between diets," the authors write. They add that one explanation for the inconsistent findings could relate to the inherent physiological differences among study participants. "One physiological mechanism that might relate weight loss to dietary composition is individual differences in insulin secretion."
Cara B. Ebbeling, Ph.D., of Childrens Hospital Boston, and colleagues conducted a study to determine whether insulin secretion affects weight loss and body fat loss among obese individuals with different diets. This randomized controlled trial, conducted from September 2004 to December 2006, included 73 obese young adults (age 18-35 years) and consisted of a 6-month intensive intervention period and a 12-month follow-up period. Serum insulin concentration at 30 minutes after a 75-g dose of oral glucose was determined at baseline as a measure of insulin secretion. Outcomes were assessed at 6, 12, and 18 months. Participants consumed either a lowglycemic load (40 percent carbohydrate and 35 percent fat) or low-fat (55 percent carbohydrate and 20 percent fat) diet.
The researchers found that change in body weight an
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JAMA and Archives Journals
15-May-2007