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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Aug;23(8):675-80.
doi: 10.1089/jwh.2013.4638. Epub 2014 Jul 16.

Effect of a low-fat or low-carbohydrate weight-loss diet on markers of cardiovascular risk among premenopausal women: a randomized trial

Randi E Foraker  1 , Michael Pennell, Peter Sprangers, Mara Z Vitolins, Cecilia DeGraffinreid, Electra D Paskett
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effect of a low-fat or low-carbohydrate weight-loss diet on markers of cardiovascular risk among premenopausal women: a randomized trial

Randi E Foraker et al. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2014 Aug.

Abstract

Background: Low-fat and low-carbohydrate weight-loss diets can have a beneficial effect on longitudinal measures of blood pressure and blood lipids. We aimed to assess longitudinal changes in blood pressure and blood lipids in a population of premenopausal women. We hypothesized that results may differ by level of adherence to the respective diet protocol and baseline presence of hypertension or hyperlipidemia.

Methods: Overweight or obese premenopausal women were randomized to a low-fat (n=41) or low-carbohydrate (n=38) diet. As part of the 52-week Lifestyle Eating and Fitness (LEAF) intervention trial, we fit linear mixed models to determine whether a change in outcome differed by treatment arm.

Results: Within-group trends in blood pressure and blood lipids did not differ (p>0.30). Across study arms, there was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP, 3 mm Hg, p=0.01) over time, but diastolic blood pressure (DBP) did not change significantly over the course of the study. Blood lipids (total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoproteins [LDL], and high-density lipoproteins [HDL]) all exhibited nonlinear trends over time (p<0.01); each decreased initially but returned to levels comparable to baseline by study conclusion (p>0.20). We observed a decline in SBP among women who were hypertensive at baseline (p<0.01), but hypercholesterolemia at baseline did not affect trends in blood lipids (p>0.40).

Conclusions: Our results support that dietary interventions may be efficacious for lowering blood pressure and blood lipids among overweight or obese premenopausal women. However, a decrease in SBP was the only favorable change that was sustained in this study population. These changes can be maintained over the course of a 1-year intervention, yet changes in blood lipids may be less sustainable.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01559194.

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Figures

<b>FIG. 1.</b>
FIG. 1.
Trend over time in mean total cholesterol (mg/dL) by study arm.
<b>FIG. 2.</b>
FIG. 2.
Trend over time in mean low-density lipoproteins (LDL) (mg/dL) by study arm.
<b>FIG. 3.</b>
FIG. 3.
Trend over time in mean high-density lipoproteins (HDL) (mg/dL) by study arm.
<b>FIG. 4.</b>
FIG. 4.
Trend over time in mean body weight (kg) by study arm.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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