title: The potential of a high protein-low carbohydrate diet to preserve intrahepatic triglyceride content in healthy humans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Protein supplementation has been shown to reduce the increases in intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content induced by acute hypercaloric high-fat and high-fructose diets in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of a 12-wk iso-energetic high protein-low carbohydrate (HPLC) diet compared with an iso-energetic high carbohydrate-low protein (HCLP) diet on IHTG content in healthy non-obese subjects, at a constant body weight.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven men and nine women [mean ± SD age: 24 ± 5 y; BMI: 22.9 ± 2.1 kg/m2] were randomly allocated to a HPLC [30/35/35% of energy (En%) from protein/carbohydrate/fat] or a HCLP (5/60/35 En%) diet by stratification on sex, age and BMI. Dietary guidelines were prescribed based on individual daily energy requirements. IHTG content was measured by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy before and after the dietary intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IHTG content changed in different directions with the HPLC (CH2H2O: 0.23 ± 0.17 to 0.20 ± 0.10; IHTG%: 0.25 ± 0.20% to 0.22 ± 0.11%) compared with the HCLP diet (CH2H2O: 0.34 ± 0.20 vs. 0.38 ± 0.21; IHTG%: 0.38 ± 0.22% vs. 0.43 ± 0.24%), which resulted in a lower IHTG content in the HPLC compared with the HCLP diet group after 12 weeks, which almost reached statistical significance (P = 0.055).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A HPLC vs. a HCLP diet has the potential to preserve vs. enlarge IHTG content in healthy non-obese subjects at a constant body weight.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01551238.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Eveline A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Blandine
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gatta-Cherifi
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hanne K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Gonnissen
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Margriet S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Westerterp-Plantenga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides