Research on Low Carbohydrate Diets
The popularity of low carbohydrate diets has waxed and waned in the U.S. over the last two centuries. From the Banting diet in the 1860's to the Atkins plan 100 years later to the Paleo/Primal way of eating that is currently in vogue, some form of carbohydrate restriction has always existed as an alternative to more conventional nutrition recommendations. Today it is the low-fat, high-complex-carbohydrate diet that is promoted by the United States Department of Agriculture, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, and other organizations. While this diet may be healthy for some, I believe low carbohydrate diets can be very beneficial for others. Criticisms of low carbohydrate plans include that they are too difficult to follow long term, ineffective at sustaining weight loss, and potentially harmful to health. However, there has been abundant research conducted over the last 20 years which disputes these claims and in fact presents a strong argument for why carbohydrate restriction is preferable for managing diabetes, overweight and obesity, and other conditions of carbohydrate intolerance.
The Reference Daily Intake , or RDI, (formerly called the Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA) for nutrient intake is established by the Food and Nutrition Board (formerly called the U.S. National Academy of Sciences). This value is used to establish the Daily Values seen on food labels. The Daily Value for carbohydrate is currently set at 300 grams for an individual consuming 2000 calories per day. Research and anecdotal evidence suggest that reducing this level to 30-100 grams daily decreases postprandial glucose response, modulates hyperinsulinemia, reduces serum triglyceride synthesis, increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, promotes satiety, and has other favorable metabolic effects.
Below are links to several studies which provide evidence that carbohydrate restriction is not only safe but effective for weight loss and blood sugar control.
2019
Reversing type 2 diabetes: a narrative review of the evidence
Low versus high carbohydrate diet in type 1 diabetes: a 12-week randomized open-label crossover study
Low-carbohydrate diets differing in carbohydrate restriction improve cardiometabolic and anthropometric markers in healthy adults: A randomised clinical trial
An experimental ketogenic diet for Alzheimer disease was nutritionally dense and rich in vegetables and avocado
Improvement in patient-reported sleep in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes participants receiving a continuous care intervention with nutritional ketosis
Extended ketogenic diet and physical training intervention in military personnel
The effect of low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets on pain in individuals with knee osteoarthritis
A clinician's guide to inpatient low carbohydrate diets for remission of type 2 diabetes : toward a standard of care protocol
2018
The ketogenic diet and its clinical applications in type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Nutritional ketosis and mitohormesis: potential implications for mitochondrial function and human health
Effects of carbohydrate-restricted diets on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
A low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet reduces body mass without compromising performance in powerlifting and olympic weightlifting athletes
Effect of a very low-calorie ketogenic diet on food and alcohol cravings, physical and sexual activity, sleep disturbances, and quality of life in obese patients
Management of type 1 diabetes with a very low-carbohydrate diet
Short-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of a very low-calorie-ketogenic diet interventional weight loss program versus hypocaloric diet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Effect of dietary carbohydrate restriction on glycemic control in adults with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Low carbohydrate diet and improved glycaemic control in a patient with type one diabetes
Low-carbohydrate diets for type 1 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review
Effect of low-carbohydrate diet on markers of renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis
Effects of an energy-restricted low-carbohydrate, high unsaturated fat/low saturated fat diet versus a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet in type 2 diabetes: A 2-year randomized clinical trial.
Effectiveness and safety of a novel care model for the management of type 2 diabetes at 1 year: An open-label, non-randomized, controlled study
Cardiovascular disease risk factor responses to a type 2 diabetes care model including nutritional ketosis induced by sustained carbohydrate restriction at 1 year: an open label, non-randomized, controlled study
Assessing the nutrient intake of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet: a hypothetical case study design
2017
Twelve-month outcomes of a randomized trial of a moderate-carbohydrate versus very low-carbohydrate diet in overweight adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus or prediabetes
A novel intervention including individualized nutritional recommendations reduces hemoglobin A1c level, medication use, and weight in type 2 diabetes
Short-term effects of a low carbohydrate diet on glycaemic variables and cardiovascular risk markers in patients with type 1 diabetes: A randomized open-label crossover trial
Acid-base safety during the course of a very low-calorie-ketogenic diet
The effect of low carbohydrate diets on fertility hormones and outcomes in overweight and obese women: a systematic review
Induced and controlled dietary ketosis as a regulator of obesity and metabolic syndrome pathologies
Efficacy of low carbohydrate diet for type 2 diabetes mellitus management: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
A 12-week low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet improves metabolic health outcomes over a control diet in a randomised controlled trial with overweight defence force personnel
Ketogenic diet benefits body composition and well-being but not performance in a pilot case study of New Zealand endurance athletes
Dynamics of intrapericardial and extrapericardial fat tissues during long-term, dietary-induced, moderate weight loss
Prop nontaster women lose more weight following a low-carbohydrate versus a low-fat diet in a randomized controlled trial
Hepatic, adipocyte, enteric and pancreatic hormones: response to dietary macronutrient composition and relationship with metabolism
Body composition changes after very-low-calorie ketogenic diet in obesity evaluated by 3 standardized methods
Should a low-carbohydrate diet be recommended for diabetes management?
An online intervention comparing a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet and lifestyle recommendations versus a plate method diet in overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial
2016
Impact of low-carbohydrate diet on body composition: meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies
Very-low-carbohydrate diets in the management of diabetes revisited
Long-term effects of a very-low-carbohydrate weight-loss diet and an isocaloric low-fat diet on bone health in obese adults
Obesity treatment by very low-calorie-ketogenic diet at two years: reduction in visceral fat and on the burden of disease
Short-term safety, tolerability and efficacy of a very low-calorie-ketogenic diet interventional weight loss program versus hypocaloric diet in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Effects of low-carbohydrate diets v. low-fat diets on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trial
The effects of low carbohydrate diets on liver function tests in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials
Low carbohydrate diet based intervention for obstructive sleep apnea and primary hypothyroidism in an obese Japanese man
A randomised trial of the feasibility of a low carbohydrate diet vs standard carbohydrate counting in adults with type 1 diabetes taking body weight into account
2015
Effects of a high-protein/low carbohydrate versus a standard hypocaloric diet on adipocytokine levels and insulin resistance along 9 months
The effects of a low-carbohydrate diet vs. a low-fat diet on novel cardiovascular risk factors: a randomized controlled trial
The effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on appetite: a randomized controlled trial
Metabolic characteristics of keto-adapted ultra-endurance runners
Long-term effects of a very low carbohydrate compared with a high carbohydrate diet on renal function in individuals with type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial
Dietary intervention for overweight and obese adults: comparison of low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets. A meta-analysis
Comparison of a carbohydrate-free diet vs. fasting on plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon in type 2 diabetes
Do ketogenic diets really suppress appetite? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
A lower-carbohydrate, higher-fat diet reduces abdominal and intermuscular fat and increases insulin sensitivity in adults at risk of type 2 diabetes
Comparison of low- and high-carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes management: a randomized trial.
Low starch/low dairy diet results in successful treatment of obesity and co-morbidities linked to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
2014
The effects of ketogenic dieting on skeletal muscle and fat mass
Dietary carbohydrate restriction as the first approach in diabetes management. Critical review and evidence base
Effects of a eucaloric reduced-carbohydrate diet on body composition and fat distribution in women with PCOS
Advice to follow a low-carbohydrate diet has a favourable impact on low-grade inflammation in type 2 diabetes compared with advice to follow a low-fat diet
Retrospective study on the efficacy of a low-carbohydrate diet for impaired glucose tolerance
A very low-carbohydrate, low–saturated fat diet for type 2 diabetes management: A randomized trial
Randomization to a low-carbohydrate diet advice improves health related quality of life compared with a low-fat diet at similar weight-loss in Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Effects of low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets: a randomized trial
Low carbohydrate diet to achieve weight loss and improve HbA1c in type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes: experience from one general practice
A non-calorie-restricted low-carbohydrate diet is effective as an alternative therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes
A randomized pilot trial of a moderate carbohydrate diet compared to a very low carbohydrate diet in overweight or obese individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus or prediabetes
Two diets with different hemoglobin A1c and antiglycemic medication effects despite similar weight loss in type 2 diabetes
2013
Beyond weight loss: a review of the therapeutic uses of very-low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diets
Treatment of diabetes and diabetes complications with a ketogenic diet
Long term successful weight loss with a combination biphasic ketogenic Mediterranean diet and Mediterranean diet maintenance protocol
Renal function following three distinct weight loss dietary strategies during 2 years of a randomized controlled trial
Very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet v. low-fat diet for long-term weight loss: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Consuming a hypocaloric high fat low carbohydrate diet for 12 weeks lowers C-reactive protein, and raises serum adiponectin and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol in obese subjects
2012
Low carbohydrate diet in type 1 diabetes, long-term improvement and adherence: a clinical audit
Effect of low-calorie vs. low-carbohydate ketogenic diet in type 2 diabetes
2011
Short-term carbohydrate-restricted diet for weight loss in severely obese women.
A carbohydrate-restricted diet during resistance training promotes more favorable changes in body composition and markers of health on obese women with and without insulin resistance.
Reversal of nephropathy by a ketogenic diet
A pilot study of the Spanish ketogenic Mediterranean diet: an effective therapy for the metabolic syndrome
2010
Weight and metabolic outcomes after 2 years on a low-carbohydrate vs. low-fat diet: a randomized trial
A low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet improves cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes control among overweight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a one-year prospective randomized intervention study
Revealing the molecular relationship between type 2 diabetes and the metabolic changes induced by a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet
Renal function following long-term weight loss in individuals with abdominal obesity on a very-low-carbohydrate vs. high carbohydrate diet
2008
Restricted-carbohydrate diets in patients with type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis
Weight Loss with a low-carbohydrate, mediterranean, or low-fat diet
Effects of a high-protein ketogenic diet on hunger, appetite, and weight loss in obese men feeding ad libitum
The effect of a low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet vs. a low glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Carbohydrate restriction has a more favorable impact on the metabolic syndrome than a low fat diet
Dietary carbohydrate restriction in type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome: time for a critical appraisal
Low-carbohydrate diet in type 2 diabetes: stable improvements of body weight and glycemic control during 44 months follow-up
2007
Comparison of the Atkins, Zone, Ornish, and LEARN diets for change in weight and related risk factors among overweight premenopausal women
Beneficial effects of ketogenic diet in obese diabetic subjects
2006
The metabolic response to a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Short-term effects of severe dietary carbohydrate-restriction advice in Type 2 diabetes--a randomized controlled trial
2005
Effect of a low-carbohydrate diet on appetite, blood glucose levels, and insulin resistance in obese patients with type 2 diabetes
A low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet to treat type 2 diabetes
The effects of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet on the polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot study
A low carbohydrate diet in Type 1 diabetes: clinical experience - a brief report
Perceived hunger is lower and weight loss is greater in overweight premenopausal women consuming a low-carbohydrate/high-protein vs high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet
2004
Comparison of energy -restricted very low carbohydrate and low fat diets on weight loss and body composition on overweight men and women
Effect of a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet on blood glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes
A low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet vs. a low-fat diet to treat obesity and hyperlipidemia: a randomized, controlled trial
2003
A low carbohydrate as compared with a low fat diet in severe obesity
A randomized trial comparing a very low carbohydrate diet and a calorie-restricted low fat diet on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy women
The effects of a low-carbohydrate regimen on glycemic control and serum lipids in diabetes mellitus
Effect of a high saturated fat and no-starch diet on serum lipid subfractions in patients with documented atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.