Abstract
Low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) are increasing in popularity, but their effect on vascular health has been questioned. Endothelial microvesicles (EMV) are membrane-derived vesicles with the potential to act as a sensitive prognostic biomarker of vascular health and endothelial function. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of a LCD on EMV and other endothelial biomarkers of protein origin. Twenty-four overweight women (age, 48.4 ± 0.6 years; height, 1.60 ± 0.07 m; body mass, 76.5 ± 9.1 kg; body mass index, 28.1 ± 2.7 kg·m(-2); waist circumference, 84.1 ± 7.4 cm; mean ± standard deviation) were randomised to either 24 weeks on their normal diet (ND) or a LCD, after which they crossed over to 24 weeks on the alternative diet. Participants were assisted in reducing carbohydrate intake, but not below 40 g·day(-1). Body composition and endothelial biomarkers were assessed at the crossover point and at the end of the study. Daily carbohydrate intake (87 ± 7 versus 179 ± 11 g) and the percentage of energy derived from carbohydrate (29% versus 44%) were lower (p < 0.05) on the LCD compared to the ND, but absolute fat and saturated fat intake were unchanged. Body mass and waist circumference were 3.7 ± 0.8 kg and 3.5 ± 1.0 cm lower (p < 0.05), respectively, after the LCD compared with the ND phases. CD31(+)CD41(-)EMV, soluble (s) thrombomodulin, sE-selectin, sP-selectin, serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein were lower (p < 0.05) after the LCD compared to the ND, but serum lipids and apolipoproteins were not different. EMV along with a range of endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers are reduced by a LCD that involves modest weight loss.
Highlights
Low carbohydrate diets (LCD) are increasing in popularity as a means of achieving weight loss in overweight women
Carryover With respect to body mass, blood pressure, Endothelial microvesicles (EMV) and all soluble endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers, delta scores between the normal diet (ND) and LCD phases were not different between the group first randomised to the ND phase and the group first randomised to the LCD phase
Mean daily energy and carbohydrate intake were 398 kcal and 92 g lower (p
Summary
Low carbohydrate diets (LCD) are increasing in popularity as a means of achieving weight loss in overweight women. Individuals on LCD typically obtain a greater proportion of energy from fat, saturated fat and protein which may have pro-atherogenic effects on some risk markers In their meta-analysis, Nordman and colleagues (Nordmann et al, 2006) demonstrated pro-atherogenic changes in serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) following LCD compared to low fat diets but anti-atherogenic changes in serum triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and blood pressure. Given these conflicting findings, there is a need to monitor more than traditional risk factors when assessing the impact of dietary interventions on vascular risk
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