Low Carb-Mediterranean Diet Combo Sheds Fat in Trial

Bill Yates
Brain Posts

Jan 13 / 2014

In keeping with this month's theme of obesity, the brain and weight loss I want to look at some clinical trial research.

Brain Posts does not endorse any type of diet or weight loss pills or substances. Personal dietary and obesity medication use choices need to be made with a qualified health professional.

However, I do post some dietary research that I find interesting. I have previously posted summaries of research related to the Mediterranean diet and beneficial cognitive and cardiovascular effects.

I ran across a clinical obesity trial that combined a brief two-phase low carbohydrate diet on top of a Mediterranean diet maintenance.

Antonio Paoli and colleagues from Italy and Greece conducted a clinical trial in obese subjects that included the following key components:

• Subjects: 68 subjects with mean BMI >30 between 25 and 65 years of age without diabetes or other severe chronic illness
• Diet intervention: One clinical trial with two cycles of 20 days of a very low carbohydrate diet (30 grams carbohydrate per day), 20 days of low carbohydrate diet (90 grams carbohydrate per day) separated by 4 and 6 month Mediterranean diet maintenance phases (260 grams carbohydrate per day). During carbohydrate restriction cycles, subjects received vitamin, mineral and herbal supplementation.
• Measurements: Body weight, body fat, lipids, blood glucose, liver and kidney function and blood pressure

The results of clinical trial were pretty impressive. The average weight loss over 12 months was 16 kilograms or 35 pounds. That is an average 15% loss of body weight. Mean BMI dropped from 35.4 to 30.3. Mean percent body fat decreased from 43% to 34%.

Metabolic parameters improved with weight loss over the trial with mean total cholesterol dropping from 193 to 180, fasting glucose from 102 to 95.  Mean blood pressure dropped from 125 to 118 systolic.

The authors note there is significant skepticism by medical professionals about very low carbohydrate diets. There is limited long-term efficacy and safety data. There were no serious adverse effects or deaths noted in the study from participation in the study.  The completion rate was high suggesting subjects tolerated the trial.

I researching this topic I found the blog and books by Dr. Steven Parker helpful. He is an internal medicine physician with quite a bit of interest in diabetes.  He has written about very low carbohydrate diet trials in diabetes. You can find a link to his blog here.

Again, this post is not an endorsement of the low carbohydrate or the Mediterranean. I am just pointing to some interesting research. Before making a decision to modify your diet, you should consult your physician before making any changes.

Readers with more interest in the study in this blog can access the free full text manuscript by clicking on the citation PMID link below.

Photo of foods in the Mediterannean Diet is from the author's files.

Follow the author on Twitter at WRY999.

Paoli A, Bianco A, Grimaldi KA, Lodi A, & Bosco G (2013). Long term successful weight loss with a combination biphasic ketogenic mediterranean diet and mediterranean diet maintenance protocol. Nutrients, 5 (12), 5205-17 PMID: 24352095

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Low Carb-Mediterranean Diet Combo Sheds Fat in Trial

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