Low-Carb Diets Improve Cholesterol Long Term

Aug. 2, 2010 -- Low-carbohydrate have an edge over low-fat diets for improving HDL cholesterol levels long term, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dieters who followed low-carb or low-fat plans for two years along with a lifestyle modification program lost the same amount of -- on average about 7% of their body weight or 15 pounds. But throughout the two-year study, low-carbohydrate dieters had significantly increased HDL, or "good," levels compared to low-fat dieters. During the first six months of the study, the low-fat dieters had greater reductions in , or "bad," cholesterol, but the differences did not persist over time. Roughly three-fifths (58%) of the low-carb dieters and two-thirds (68%) of the low-fat dieters stayed on the respective diets for two years. "This study would suggest those concerns are largely unfounded." A total of 307 obese people took part in the research, with half following a low-carb diet and half following a low-fat diet. Even though HDL profiles were better in the low-carb group, Foster says dieters who successfully lost weight on both diets showed improvements in heart disease risk.