Low-carbohydrate diets cause obesity, low-carbohydrate diets reverse obesity: a metabolic mechanism resolving the paradox.
High-fat diets produce obesity in part because, per calorie, glucose produces greater post-prandial thermogenesis than lipids, an effect probably mediated by glucose-sensing neurons. A very low-carbohydrate/high-fat/high-protein Atkins-type diet produces obesity but is marginally ketogenic in mice. In contrast, high-sucrose/low-fat diets, and very low-carbohydrate/high-fat/low-protein (anti-epileptic) ketogenic diets reverse diet-induced obesity independent of caloric intake. We propose that a non-ketogenic high-fat diet reduces glucose metabolism and signaling in glucose-sensing neurons, thereby reducing post-prandial thermogenesis, and that a ketogenic high-fat diet does not reduce glucose signaling, thereby preventing and/or reversing obesity.
Mobbs
Charles V
CV
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience and Geriatrics, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. Charles.mobbs@mssm.edu
Mastaitis
Jason
J
Yen
Kelvin
K
Schwartz
Joseph
J
Mohan
Vinuta
V
Poplawski
Michal
M
Isoda
Fumiko
F
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates