The effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on appetite: A randomized controlled trial

T. Hu, L. Yao, K. Reynolds, T. Niu, S. Li, P. Whelton, J. He, L. Bazzano

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and aims: The relationship between dietary macronutrient composition and appetite is controversial. We examined the effects of a year-long low-carbohydrate diet compared to a low-fat diet on appetite-related hormones and self-reported change in appetite. Methods and results: A total of 148 adults with a body mass index 30-45 kg/m2, who were free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease at baseline were randomly assigned to either a low-carbohydrate diet (carbohydrate [excluding dietary fiber]<40 g/day; N = 75) or a low-fat diet (<30% energy from fat, <7% from saturated fat; N = 73). Participants in both groups attended individual and group dietary counseling sessions where they were provided the same behavioral curriculum and advised to maintain baseline levels of physical activity. Appetite and appetite-related hormones were measured at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months of intervention. At 12 months, mean changes (95% CI) in peptide YY were -34.8 pg/mL (-41.0 to -28.6) and in the low-carbohydrate group and -44.2 pg/mL (-50.4 to -38.0) in the low-fat group (net change: 9.54 pg/mL [0.6 to 18.2]; p = 0.036). Approximately 99% of dietary effects on peptide YY are explained by differences in dietary macronutrient content. There was no difference in change in ghrelin or self-reported change in appetite between the groups. Conclusions: A low-fat diet reduced peptide YY more than a low-carbohydrate diet. These findings suggest that satiety may be better preserved on a low-carbohydrate diet, as compared to a low fat diet.Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00609271.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)476-488
Number of pages13
JournalNutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume26
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 The Italian Society of Diabetology, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition, and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University.

Keywords

  • Appetite
  • Clinical trial
  • Ghrelin
  • Low-carbohydrate diet
  • Peptide YY

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