title: Association of decrease in carbohydrate intake with reduction in abdominal fat during 3-month moderate low-carbohydrate diet among non-obese Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effectiveness of a moderate low-carbohydrate diet (M-LCD) has been demonstrated in terms of glycemic control, body weight and serum lipid profiles. We investigated the effect of a 3-month M-LCD on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and examined an association between decrease in carbohydrate intake and reduction in abdominal fat among patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six patients (45 men and 31 women; mean age ± SD: 59.5 ± 11.1 years) with T2DM were instructed to follow an M-LCD for 3 months. We assessed abdominal fat distribution using computed tomography and macronutrient intakes from 3-day dietary records at baseline and after 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients complied well with the M-LCD - %carbohydrate: %fat: %protein at baseline and after 3 months were 51:27:15 and 41:33:18 in men and 54:27:16 and 42:37:19 in women, respectively. VAT and SAT significantly decreased during the 3 months (P for time < 0.001 for both). Decrease in carbohydrate intake (g/day) and %carbohydrate were correlated with decrease (%) in VAT. The correlations were significant in men (Spearman correlation coefficient r = 0.469 for carbohydrate intake (g) and r = 0.402 for %carbohydrate) but not in women (r = 0.269 and 0.278, respectively). The correlations in men remained significant in multiple regression analysis adjusted for age and changes in energy intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In men, decrease in carbohydrate intake was significantly correlated with VAT loss during a 3-month M-LCD, independently of reduction in energy intake.
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan. Electronic address: sasakabe.tae@a.mbox.nagoya-u.ac.jp.
authors: Tae
authors: T
authors: Sasakabe
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Haimoto Clinic, 1-80 Yayoi-cho, Kasugai, Aichi 486-0838, Japan.
authors: Hajime
authors: H
authors: Haimoto
authors: Department of Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Umegaki
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan.
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Wakai
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / Q000592:standards*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Carbohydrate; Dietary therapy; Low-carbohydrate diet; Subcutaneous adipose tissue; Visceral adipose tissue