Low-Carb Evidence

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Low carbohydrate vs low calorie diets: RCT evidence

Meta-analyses comparing lower and low-carbohydrate diets with control diets, primarily low-caloried (energy-restricted low-fat) diets in subjects with overweight, obesity and T2D

Key outcomes include weight loss, glycaemic control, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes remission, cardiometabolic risk markers, adherence, and durability of effect, highlighting differences in mechanisms and clinical outcomes.

This evidence-based comparison supports informed decision-making in the prevention and management of metabolic disease.

Meta-analyses comparing low-carb diets to low-fat diets


Systematic review of randomized controlled trials of low-carbohydrate vs. low- fat/low- calorie diets in the management of obesity and its co-morbidities


Hession et al. August 2008.


Effects of low-carbohydrate diets on weight and glycemic control among type 2 diabetes individuals: a systemic review of RCT greater than 12 weeks

Castañeda- González et al. Nov-Dec 2011


Systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials of the effects of low carbohydrate diets on cardiovascular risk factors

Santos et al. August 2012


Very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet v. low-fat diet for long-term weight loss: a meta- analysis of randomised controlled trials

Bueno et al. October 2013


Dietary Intervention for Overweight and Obese Adults: Comparison of Low- Carbohydrate and Low-Fat Diets. A Meta-Analysis

Sackner-Bernstein et al. October 2015


Effect of low-fat diet interventions versus other diet interventions on long-term weight change in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tobias et al. October 2015


Effects of low-carbohydrate diets v. low-fat diets on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Mansoor et al. December 2015


Effects of low carbohydrate diets in individuals with type 2 diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis

Fan et al. June 2016


Efficacy of low carbohydrate diet for type 2 diabetes mellitus management: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Meng et al. July 2017


The interpretation and effect of a low-carbohydrate diet in the management of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Huntriss et al. December 2017


Effects of low-carbohydrate- compared with low-fat-diet interventions on metabolic control in people with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review including GRADE assessments

van Zuuren et al. July 2018


Effects of carbohydrate-restricted diets on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Gjuladin-Hellon et al. December 2018


Impact of a Ketogenic Diet on Metabolic Parameters in Patients with Obesity or Overweight and with or without Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Choi et al. July 2020


The Effect of Low-Fat and Low-Carbohydrate Diets on Weight Loss and Lipid Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Chawla et al. December 2020


Efficacy and safety of low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomized trial data

Goldenberg et al. January 2021