The Diet to Improve Cholesterol Numbers

by Tanya Zilberter, PhD

Numerous studies have convincingly shown the effects of low carbohydrate, ketogenic diets on weight loss in people with obesity but until recently, the long term beneficial effect was not investigated and it was believed that ketogenic diet may have adverse effect on the lipid profiles.

In April 2006, the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry published an article describing how , LDL, triglycerides, and blood glucose level changed in the course of a 56-week long ketogenic diet program.During this study, 66 healthy but obese people lost lot of weight independently of their initial lipid profiles. Those with increased cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides, and blood glucose level significantly decreased them all by the end of the study.

Before entering the program, all obese people (even those having othersise normal lipid profiles) had decreased levels of HDL (”good” cholesterol) numbers. After the program, all participants increased their HDL levels.

“This study demonstrates that low carbohydrate diet is safe to use for a longer period of time in obese subjects with a high total cholesterol level and those with normocholesterolemia,” concluded the researchers.

Source:

H. Dashti at all., Long Term Effects of Ketogenic Diet in Obese Subjects with High Cholesterol Level. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, V. 286, 1-2, 2006.