title: Effects of dietary interventions on liver volume in humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare effects of similar weight loss induced either by a short-term low-carbohydrate or by a long-term hypocaloric diet, and to determine effects of high carbohydrate overfeeding on liver total, lean, and fat volumes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver total, lean, and fat volumes were measured before and after (i) a 6-day low-carbohydrate diet (n = 17), (ii) a 7-month standard hypocaloric diet (n = 26), and (iii) a 3-week high-carbohydrate diet (n = 17), by combining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1) H-MRS) techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, three groups were comparable with respect to age, body mass index, liver volumes and the liver fat content. Body weight decreased similarly by the short-term and long-term hypocaloric diets. Liver total volume decreased significantly more during the short-term low-carbohydrate (-22 ± 2%) than the long-term (-7 ± 2%) hypocaloric diet (P < 0.001). This was due to a greater decrease in liver lean volume in the short-term (-20 ± 2%) than the long-term (-4 ± 2%) weight loss group (P < 0.001). Decreases in liver fat were comparable. Liver volume increased by 9 ± 3% due to overfeeding (P< 0.02 for before vs. after).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data support the use of a short-term low-carbohydrate diet whenever a reduction in liver volume is desirable. Overeating carbohydrate is harmful because it increases liver volume.
authors.affiliation: Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Endocrinology Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hakkarainen
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lundbom
authors.forename: Hannele
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yki-Järvinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates