Low-Carbohydrate Diets: Assessing the Science and Knowledge Gaps, Summary of an ILSI North America Workshop

Abstract

carbohydrate diets, and to identify research gaps relative to improving public health. The workshop consisted of presentations and discussions organized into three major themes: Perspectives, Mechanisms, and Gap Analysis. Perspectives provided information on efficacy and definitions regarding “low-carbohydrate” diets from the perspective of the researcher/clinician, the consumer, and the regulator. The Mechanisms session addressed hypotheses of the efficacy and other possible effects of lowcarbohydrate diets. The third and final session, Gap Analysis, enabled attendees to consider scientific and consumer perspectives to determine areas of agreement, identify data gaps, and identify ways to improve communication of this information. The purpose of this article is to relate the key points of the workshop to dietetics professionals.