Study Finds Low-Carb Diet Burns More Excess Liver Fat Than Low-Calorie Diet

[SunnySmile501]

More good news for low carb. Here's some excerpts and the link to the entire article.

Study Finds Low-Carb Diet Burns More Excess Liver Fat Than Low-Calorie Diet

JANUARY 20, 2009

Dallas

People on low-carbohydrate diets are more dependent on the oxidation of fat in the liver for energy than those on a low-calorie diet, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in a small clinical study.

The findings, published in the journal Hepatology, could have implications for treating obesity and related diseases such as diabetes, insulin resistance and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, said Dr. Jeffrey Browning, assistant professor in the UT Southwestern Advanced Imaging Research Center and of internal medicine at the medical center.

. . .

Although the study was not designed to determine which diet was more effective for losing weight, the average weight loss for the low-calorie dieters was about 5 pounds after two weeks, while the low-carbohydrate dieters lost about 9½ pounds on average.

Glucose, a form of sugar, and fat are both sources of energy that are metabolized in the liver and used as energy in the body. Glucose can be formed from lactate, amino acids or glycerol.

In order to determine how diet affects glucose production and utilization in the liver, the researchers randomly assigned 14 obese or overweight adults to either a low-carbohydrate or low-calorie diet and monitored seven lean subjects on a regular diet.

After two weeks, researchers used advanced imaging techniques to analyze the different methods, or biochemical pathways, the subjects used to make glucose.

"We saw a dramatic change in where and how the liver was producing glucose, depending on diet," said Dr. Browning.

. . .

The findings are significant because the accumulation of excess fat in the liver – primarily a form of fat called triglycerides – can result in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD. The condition is the most common form of liver disease in Western countries, and its incidence is growing. Dr. Browning has previously shown that NAFLD may affect as many as one-third of U.S. adults. The disease is associated with metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, diabetes and obesity, and it can lead to liver inflammation, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

"Energy production is expensive for the liver," Dr. Browning said. "It appears that for the people on a low-carbohydrate diet, in order to meet that expense, their livers have to burn excess fat."

Results indicate that patients on the low-carbohydrate diet increased fat burning throughout the entire body.

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/utsw/cda/dept353744/files/513557.html

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[scaleskl]

Good info. Thanks for the post.

[NoDef]

Good Info, but I doubt it gets a lot of press. Don't you know the atkins diet is bad for you? lol

[Kathi22]

I had this problem - and Atkins cured it. I was denied an increase in life insurance because of elevated enzymes - due to a fatty liver. There was such a 180 in my results after 6 months of Atkins that my Dr. used that as a case study with his patients!

Lower triglycerides, lower enzymes, lower blood pressure, lower cholestoral, more energy, less mood swings, no more afternoon fatigue, A LOT LESS FAT in my liver, and weight loss. You just can't ask for a better way of living.

[MommaRuthie]

What a great article Sunny! Thanks so much for posting it! I am hoping that my liver is no longer pate quality!

[cheribaby]

Most people who decry Atkins think it's a bacon and cheese diet. They don't realize that, if done correctly, it's really a huge elimination diet. I was talking with a colleague at school the other day. I corrected her erroneous assumptions regarding Atkins and told her that by the time you complete the OWL rungs, you're basically doing the same 'diet' that all the doctors claim is the best one - lean meats, veggies, fruits, and whole grains. The only difference is that the OWL rungs help you determine what your trigger foods are - the ones that trigger cravings and make you feel yucky. What's wrong with that?

[Tooder]

Great Info! I love hearing good new related to the lo-carb lifestyle.

[write2thepoint]

I think the article did receive a lot of press--we live in small town USA and I have seen it in a couple of newspapers, so that is very encouraging news.

[Sherri]

Thanks for sharing Sis,

[7Miriam]

very interesting article - thanks for posting it