Moderate carb restriction beneficial to women with metabolic syndrome

A moderately restricted carbohydrate diet (MRCD) appears to yield favourable effects on several cardiometabolic risk factors, including weight and serum triglyceride, in women with metabolic syndrome (MetS), according to a study.

The parallel, 3-month, single-blind randomized controlled trial included 70 women (age 20–50 years) with MetS who were overweight or obese. Of the women, 35 were assigned to undergo MRCD (42 percent to 45 percent carbohydrates and 35 percent to 40 percent fats) and the other 35 to undergo a normal weight loss diet (NWLD; 52 percent to 55 percent carbohydrates and 25 percent to 30 percent fats).

Participants in both groups consumed the same quantity of protein, which accounted for 15 percent to 17 percent of total energy. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, lipid profile, and glycaemic indices were evaluated before and after the intervention.

Compared with the NWLD group, the MRCD group achieved significant reductions in weight (−4.82 vs −2.40 kg; p=0.01), body mass index (−1.88 vs −0.94 kg/m²; p=0.01), waist circumference (−5.34 vs −2.75 cm; p=0.01), hip circumference (−2.58 vs −1.11 cm; p=0.01), serum triglyceride (−26.8 vs −7.19 mg/dL; p=0.01), as well as significant increase in serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (1.89 vs. 0.24 mg/dL; p=0.01).

No significant differences were noted between the two diets in terms of waist-to-hip ratio, serum total cholesterol, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin levels, or the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance.