Effect of a low-glycaemic index–low-fat–high protein diet on the atherogenic metabolic risk profile of abdominally obese men

Abstract

It has been suggested that the current dietary recommendations (low-fat–high-carbohydrate diet) may promote the intake of sugar and highly refined starches which could have adverse effects on the metabolic risk profile. We have investigated the short-term (6-d) nutritional and metabolic effects of anad libitumlow-glycaemic index–low-fat–high-protein diet (prepared according to the Montignac method) compared with the American Heart Association (AHA) phase I diet consumedad libitumas well as with a pair-fed session consisting of the same daily energy intake as the former but with the same macronutrient composition as the AHA phase I diet. Twelve overweight men (BMI 33·0 (SD 3·5) KG/M²) WITHOUT OTHER DISEASES WERE INVOLVED IN THREE EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS WITH A MINIMAL WASHOUT PERIOD OF 2 WEEKS SEPARATING EACH INTERVENTION. BY PROTOCOL DESIGN, THE FIRST TWO CONDITIONS WERE ADMINISTERED RANDOMLY WHEREAS THE PAIR-FED SESSION HAD TO BE ADMINISTERED LAST. DURING THEAD LIBITUMVERSION OF THE AHA DIET, SUBJECTS CONSUMED 11695·0 (sd 1163·0) kJ/d and this diet induced a 28 % increase in plasma triacylglycerol levels (1·77 (sd 0·79)v.2·27 (sd 0·92) mmol/l,Pv.0·83 (sd 0·09) mmol/l,PPad libitumresulted in a spontaneous 25 % decrease (Pv.1·31 (sd 0·38) mmol/l,Pv.255 (sd 5) Å,PPPad libitumconsumption of the low-glycaemic index–low-fat–high-protein diet (decreases in triacyglycerols, lack of increase in cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio, increase in LDL particle size) were significantly different from the response of these variables to the AHA phase I diet. Thus, a low-glycaemic index–low-fat–high-protein content diet may have unique beneficial effects compared with the conventional AHA diet for the treatment of the atherogenic metabolic risk profile of abdominally obese patients. However, the present study was a short-term intervention and additional trials are clearly needed to document the long-term efficacy of this dietary approach with regard to compliance and effects on the metabolic risk profile.