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Comparison of Low Fat and Low Carbohydrate Diets on Circulating Fatty Acid Composition and Markers of Inflammation

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Lipids

Abstract

Abnormal distribution of plasma fatty acids and increased inflammation are prominent features of metabolic syndrome. We tested whether these components of metabolic syndrome, like dyslipidemia and glycemia, are responsive to carbohydrate restriction. Overweight men and women with atherogenic dyslipidemia consumed ad libitum diets very low in carbohydrate (VLCKD) (1504 kcal:%CHO:fat:protein = 12:59:28) or low in fat (LFD) (1478 kcal:%CHO:fat:protein = 56:24:20) for 12 weeks. In comparison to the LFD, the VLCKD resulted in an increased proportion of serum total n-6 PUFA, mainly attributed to a marked increase in arachidonate (20:4n-6), while its biosynthetic metabolic intermediates were decreased. The n-6/n-3 and arachidonic/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio also increased sharply. Total saturated fatty acids and 16:1n-7 were consistently decreased following the VLCKD. Both diets significantly decreased the concentration of several serum inflammatory markers, but there was an overall greater anti-inflammatory effect associated with the VLCKD, as evidenced by greater decreases in TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, E-selectin, I-CAM, and PAI-1. Increased 20:4n-6 and the ratios of 20:4n-6/20:5n-3 and n-6/n-3 are commonly viewed as pro-inflammatory, but unexpectedly were consistently inversely associated with responses in inflammatory proteins. In summary, a very low carbohydrate diet resulted in profound alterations in fatty acid composition and reduced inflammation compared to a low fat diet.

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Abbreviations

VLCKD:

Very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet

LFD:

Low fat diet

PL:

Phospholipid

CE:

Cholesteryl ester

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

RDA:

Recommended daily allowance

BMI:

Body mass index

IL:

Interleukin

TNF-α:

Tumor necrosis factor-α

VEGF:

Vascular endothelial growth factor

IFN-γ:

Interferon-γ

EGF:

Epidermal growth factor

MCP-1:

Monocyte chemotactic protein-1

ICAM-1:

Intracellular cellular adhesion molecule-1

VCAM-I:

Vascular cellular adhesion molecule-I

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor-kappa B

CRP:

C-reactive protein

TAG:

Triglycerides

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Dr. Robert C. Atkins Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, 2095 Hillside Road, Unit 1110, Storrs, CT, 06269-1110, USA

    Cassandra E. Forsythe, Erin E. Quann, William J. Kraemer & Jeff S. Volek

  2. School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA

    Stephen D. Phinney

  3. Department of Nutritional Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Maria Luz Fernandez, Richard J. Wood & Jeff S. Volek

  4. University of Minnesota and Lipid Technologies, LLC, Austin, MN, USA

    Doug M. Bibus

  5. Department of Biochemistry, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Richard D. Feinman

Authors
  1. Cassandra E. Forsythe
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  2. Stephen D. Phinney
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  3. Maria Luz Fernandez
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  4. Erin E. Quann
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  5. Richard J. Wood
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  6. Doug M. Bibus
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  9. Jeff S. Volek
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Correspondence to Jeff S. Volek.

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Forsythe, C.E., Phinney, S.D., Fernandez, M.L. et al. Comparison of Low Fat and Low Carbohydrate Diets on Circulating Fatty Acid Composition and Markers of Inflammation. Lipids 43, 65–77 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-007-3132-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-007-3132-7

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