Overweight or obese people who lose weight following a low-carb or low-fat diet have a significant reduction in inflammation throughout their body, as measured by three common markers for inflammation, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions.
“Our findings indicate that you can reduce systemic inflammation, and possibly lower your risk of heart disease, no matter which diet—either low-carb or low-fat," said Kerry Stewart, Ed.D., professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and director of clinical and research exercise physiology. “The important factor is how much weight you lose—especially belly fat."
For the study, 60 people, ages 30 to 65 years, who were either overweight or obese with excessive fat around their waist, were randomly assigned to go on a low-fat or a low-carb diet for six months. Each group also participated in exercise training three times a week. Researchers measured the participants’ blood levels for three common markers of inflammation—C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha—at the beginning and end of the study. They also measured body weight, body mass index (BMI) and total body and belly fat. At the start, both groups were similar in the various measures, including elevated levels of inflammation markers.
Participants on the low-carb diet lost more weight, on average, than those on the low-fat diet—28 pounds versus 18 pounds. The low-carb diet group also had a greater drop in BMI (4.7 versus 2.9), and a greater drop in belly fat (14.3 versus 8.4 pounds). The level of aerobic fitness increased in both groups by about 20%.
“In both groups, there was a significant drop in the levels of all three measures of inflammation," Stewart said, indicating that a diet higher in fat and protein doesn’t interfere with the ability to lower inflammation, as long as you are losing weight.
