title: Visceral adiposity and metabolic syndrome after very high-fat and low-fat isocaloric diets: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Different aspects of dietary pattern, including macronutrient and food profiles, may affect visceral fat mass and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  
  We hypothesized that consuming energy primarily from carbohydrate or fat in diets with similar food profiles would differentially affect the ability to reverse visceral adiposity and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  
  Forty-six men (aged 30-50 y) with body mass index (in kg/m2) >29 and waist circumference >98 cm were randomly assigned to a very high-fat, low-carbohydrate (VHFLC; 73% of energy fat and 10% of energy carbohydrate) or low-fat, high-carbohydrate (LFHC; 30% of energy fat and 53% of energy carbohydrate) diet for 12 wk. The diets were equal in energy (8750 kJ/d), protein (17% of energy), and food profile, emphasizing low-processed, lower-glycemic foods. Fat mass was quantified with computed tomography imaging.
  
  
  
  Recorded intake of carbohydrate and total and saturated fat in the LFHC and VHFLC groups were 51% and 11% of energy, 29% and 71% of energy, and 12% and 34% of energy, respectively, with no difference in protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Mean energy intake decreased by 22% and 14% in the LFHC and VHFLC groups. The diets similarly reduced waist circumference (11-13 cm), abdominal subcutaneous fat mass (1650-1850 cm3), visceral fat mass (1350-1650 cm3), and total body weight (11-12 kg). Both groups improved dyslipidemia, with reduced circulating triglycerides, but showed differential responses in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (decreased in LFHC group only), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (increased in VHFLC group only). The groups showed similar reductions in insulin, insulin C-peptide, glycated hemoglobin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance. Notably, improvements in circulating metabolic markers in the VHFLC group mainly were observed first after 8 wk, in contrast to more acute and gradual effects in the LFHC group.
  
  
  
  Consuming energy primarily as carbohydrate or fat for 3 mo did not differentially influence visceral fat and metabolic syndrome in a low-processed, lower-glycemic dietary context. Our data do not support the idea that dietary fat per se promotes ectopic adiposity and cardiometabolic syndrome in humans. This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01750021.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science.|KG Jebsen Centre for Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, and.|Hormone Laboratory and.
authors.forename: Vivian L
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8329-9030
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Veum
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science.|Hormone Laboratory and.|Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5866-5190
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laupsa-Borge
authors.affiliation: Hormone Laboratory and.
authors.forename: Øyvin
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7090-4951
authors.initials: Ø
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Espen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rostrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Terje H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science.
authors.forename: Jan Erik
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8720-4692
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nordrehaug
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science.|KG Jebsen Centre for Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, and.|Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Ottar K
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4885-1010
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Nygård
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science.|KG Jebsen Centre for Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, and.|Hormone Laboratory and.
authors.forename: Jørn V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Sagen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; and.
authors.forename: Oddrun A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Gudbrandsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, simon.dankel@uib.no gunnar.mellgren@uib.no.|KG Jebsen Centre for Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, and.|Hormone Laboratory and.
authors.forename: Simon N
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6972-1824
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Dankel
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science, simon.dankel@uib.no gunnar.mellgren@uib.no.|KG Jebsen Centre for Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, and.|Hormone Laboratory and.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6282-4986
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mellgren
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D055105:Waist Circumference
chemical_list: D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: CT; computed tomography; food profile; metabolic syndrome; obesity; saturated fat