Hypocaloric High Fat and High Carbohydrate Diets on Visceral Adipose Tissue and Body Composition

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is strongly associated with increased cardiometabolic risks. High-fat (HF) diets are a popular method for improving body composition. PURPOSE: To determine the role of HF diets in body composition and VAT. METHODS: In a randomized, cross-over design, 12 healthy, sedentary individuals were assigned either to a HF or HC diet trial with a 20% reduction in total caloric intake from their typical diet. Participants maintained their 1st assigned diet for 2 weeks followed by a 1-week washout period where they consumed their typical diet. After the 1-week washout period, participants began the opposite diet trial (either HF or HC) for 2 weeks. The HF diet consisted of 70% fat and 30% carbohydrate and protein, with a limit of 50 grams of carbohydrate. The HC diet consisted of 70% carbohydrate and 30% fat and protein. Body composition including VAT in mass and volume were determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Total body mass decreased up to 1.5 kg from the pre-intervention (78.07±17.36 kg) following either the HF (76.63±15.99 kg) or HC (76.24±15.71 kg) trial, yet it was not statistically significant. VAT in mass and volume decreased following either the HF or HC diet from the pre-intervention (429.57±225.43g and 464.42±244.02cm3). However, the magnitude of change in VATmass and VATvolume was greater in the HF diet (374±159.59g and 404.14±172.54cm3) than the HC diet (388.71±184.73g and 420.42±199.93cm3) although it was not statistically significant. Notably, percent body fat decreased only following the HF diet (pre-intervention: 29.70±9.75, HF: 27.65±10.55, and HC: 29.15±11.43%). CONCLUSION: Although a short-term hypocaloric diet with either HF or HC did not yield a significant change in body composition, there was a strong trend showing that hypocaloric diets, whether HF or HC, can lower total body weight. HF diets though may be more effective than HC at decreasing body fat percentage and VAT. Our study only looked at changes after two-week dietary interventions in healthy sedentary individuals. Thus, future studies examining long term effects of HF diets in a variety of subject populations, including obese people, may provide more accurate information regarding a role of HF diets in body composition and visceral adipose tissue.