High fat/Low carbohydrate diets are particularly effective in reducing the dangerous visceral fat in type II diabetics

This study was published in Diabetes Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity 2011;4:167-74

Study title and authors:

Effects of a moderate low-carbohydrate diet on preferential abdominal fat loss and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Sasakabe T, Haimoto H, Umegaki H, Wakai K.

Department of Clinical Nutrition, Haimoto Clinic, Yayoi, Kasugai, Aichi, Japan;

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21779148

Visceral fat refers to the fat that surrounds the internal organs. Subcutaneous fat is body fat that is close to the skin's surface and is considered less dangerous, and easier to lose than visceral fat.

Studies have shown that those with visceral fat are more susceptible to heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.

This study examined the effects of a low carbohydrate diet on visceral fat, subcutaneous fat and heart disease risk factors in patients with type II diabetes. The study included 52 type II diabetes patients who consumed a high fat/low carbohydrate diet for six months.

The main principle of the low carbohydrate diet used in the study was to eliminate carbohydrate-rich foods depending on each patient’s HbA1c levels:

(i) Patients with HbA1c levels less than 9.0% eliminated carohydrate-rich foods from their dinner. 

(ii) patients with an HbA1c level more than 9.0% were asked to eliminate carbohydrates from breakfast and dinner. 

Patients were allowed to eat as much protein and fat as they wanted, including saturated fat. There were no other dietary restrictions.

The study found:

(a) The high fat/low carbohydrate diet resulted in a 14.2% visceral fat loss in men and an 18.9% visceral fat loss in women, as well as a 9.0% subcutaneous fat loss in men and an 8.8% subcutaneous fat loss in women. 

(b) Men lost 2 kg in weight and women lost 1.7 kg in weight.

(c) The unhealthy high HbA1c levels decreased by 1.9% in men and by 1.6% in women.

(d) The unhealthy high fasting glucose levels decreased by 21 mg/dl (1.16 mmol/l) in men and by 20 mg (1.11 mmol/l) in women.

(e) The unhealthy high triglyceride levels decreased by 16 mg/dL (.18 mmol/l) in men and by 7 mg/dL (.08 mmol/l) in women.

(f) The levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol rose by a healthy 5 mg/dL (.13 mmol/l) in men and 1 mg/dL (.03 mmol/l) in women.

The results of the study suggest that as well as been effective for absolute fat loss, the high fat/low carbohydrate diet is particularly effective in reducing the dangerous visceral fat. Additionally the diet reduced the values of many risk factors of heart disease and diabetes complications.

Links to other studies:
As children eat less saturated fat and cholesterol - their obesity rates have soared
Obese and diabetic patients lose more weight on a high fat diet compared to a high carbohydrate diet
High-fat diets are better than high-carbohydrate diets in the treatment of type 2 diabetes