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Short-Term Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet for Weight Loss in Severely Obese Women

  • Clinical Research
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Weight loss in bariatric pre-surgery period reduces surgical complications, surgery time, blood loss, and length of hospital stay. Carbohydrate-restricted diets have been used as an alternative for weight loss. We tested the efficacy of a low-calorie carbohydrate-restricted diet (RD) for short-term weight loss in women with severe obesity and evaluate its metabolic effects in relation to a conventional low-calorie diet (CD).

Methods

The subjects received a 1,200-kcal diet with or without carbohydrate restriction for a period of 1 week in the hospital. Nineteen obesity class III women were distributed into two groups: experimental (n = 10) and control (n = 9). The following variables were assessed at the beginning and end of the study: anthropometric measurements, body composition, resting energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, and biochemical tests.

Results

Compared with CD, RD led to larger weight loss (2.6 and 4.4 kg, respectively; p = 0.01) and waist circumference reduction (p < 0.01). Among the assessed biochemical indicators, only plasma and urine acetone levels were different (p < 0.01); higher values were found in the experimental group with no symptoms and other diet-related complaints. There was also a significant decrease in triglycerides and carbohydrate oxidation, as well as a significant enhancement in lipid oxidation in the RD group.

Conclusion

Short-term RD was more efficient than CD regarding quick weight loss and waist circumference reduction, which may favor gastroplasty. Also, RD did not lead adverse metabolic effects.

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Abbreviations

RD:

low-calorie carbohydrate-restricted diet

CD:

conventional low-calorie diet

HCFMRP-USP:

Clinical Hospital, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo

BMI:

body mass index

AC:

arm circumference

WC:

waist circumference in the navel

WC1:

waist circumference 10 cm above the WC

WC2:

waist circumference 20 cm above the WC

HOMA-IR:

homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance

SD:

standard deviation

REE:

resting energy expenditure

FM:

fat mass

LM:

lean mass

RQ:

respiratory quotient

TEV:

total energy value

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Fundação de Apoio ao Ensino (FAEPA), Pesquisa e Assistência do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. We thank Rita de Cássia L. dos Santos for helping with data collection and lab technician at University of São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, José Eduardo Bueno, for assisting with acetone analysis.

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Andresa de Toledo Triffoni-Melo

  2. Clinical Hospital, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Ingrid Dick-de-Paula

  3. Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil

    Guilherme Vannucchi Portari

  4. Nutrition and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14048-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Alceu Afonso Jordao, Paula Garcia Chiarello & Rosa Wanda Diez-Garcia

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  1. Andresa de Toledo Triffoni-Melo
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Correspondence to Rosa Wanda Diez-Garcia.

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de Toledo Triffoni-Melo, A., Dick-de-Paula, I., Portari, G.V. et al. Short-Term Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet for Weight Loss in Severely Obese Women. OBES SURG 21, 1194–1202 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-010-0110-6

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