Effects of two energy-restricted diets differing in the carbohydrate/protein ratio on weight loss and oxidative changes of obese men.
BACKGROUND
Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets are a current challenge in the nutritional treatment of obesity.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the effect of a low-carbohydrate high-protein diet with a traditional hypocaloric diet on weight loss and mitochondrial oxidative metabolism.


METHODS
Nineteen obese men (age 36+/-6 years; body mass index 34+/-2 kg/m2) were randomized to follow one of the two diets-control diet (15% protein; 30% lipids; 55% carbohydrates) or high-protein diet (30% protein; 30% lipids; 40% carbohydrates)-over an 8-week period. Anthropometry, biochemical variables, resting energy expenditure and mitochondrial oxidation were measured at the start and at the end of the intervention.


RESULTS
The high-protein diet produced a greater weight loss (-8.3+/-1.2% versus -5.5+/-2.5%, P = 0.012) than the control diet. Interestingly, an activation in the mitochondrial oxidation was found in the high-protein-fed group. This stimulation was positively correlated with the final resting energy expenditure and negatively associated with the final fat mass content.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-carbohydrate high-protein diets could involve specific changes in mitochondrial oxidation that could be related to a higher weight loss.
Abete
Itziar
I
Department of Food Sciences, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
Parra
Dolores
D
De Morentin
Blanca Martinez
BM
Alfredo Martinez
J
J
D000328:Adult; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004044:Dietary Proteins