By Atanas G. Atanasov

Background: This #DoesItWorkSummary is based on the findings of a meta‐analysis of prospective studies published in The Lancet journal in September 2018 [1]. Low carbohydrate diets associated with higher intake of protein and fat are highly popular since they are effective in inducing short-term weight loss [2]. However, the long-term health effects of dietary substitution of carbohydrates with protein and fats are not well studied. Meta‐analysis of prospective studies was performed to analyze the effect of dietary carbohydrates (as percentage of the total diet) on mortality.

Findings:Analyzed were 8 studies involving 432 179 people [1]. Overall, both high and low percentage of dietary carbohydrates was associated with shorter life. Maximal longevity expectations had the people that consumed moderate amounts of carbohydrates, with 50–55% of the dietary energy coming from carbohydrates. However, in the group of people on low-carbohydrate diet there was a difference depending on if carbohydrates were substituted with higher intake of animal-derived or plant-derived protein and fat. Low carbohydrate diet in combination with more animal-derived protein and fat enriched foods (for example pork, lamb, beef, and chicken) was linked with higher mortality, but in combination with more plant-derived protein and fat enriched foods (for example vegetables, peanut butter, nuts, whole-grain breads) there was lower mortality.

References

1 Seidelmann, S.B., Claggett, B., Cheng, S., Henglin, M., Shah, A., Steffen, L.M., Folsom, A.R., Rimm, E.B., Willett, W.C. and Solomon, S.D. (2018) Dietary Carbohydrate Intake and Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study and Meta-Analysis. The Lancet. Public health, Elsevier, 3, e419–e428. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30135-X.

2 Shai, I., Schwarzfuchs, D., Henkin, Y.,Shahar, D.R., Witkow, S., Greenberg, I., Golan, R., Fraser, D., Bolotin, A.,Vardi, H., Tangi-Rozental, O., Zuk-Ramot, R., Sarusi, B., Brickner, D.,Schwartz, Z., Sheiner, E., Marko, R., Katorza, E., Thiery, J., Fiedler, G.M.,Blüher, M., Stumvoll, M., Stampfer, M.J. and Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) Group. (2008) Weight Loss with a Low-Carbohydrate,Mediterranean, or Low-Fat Diet. New England Journal of Medicine, 359,229–241. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa0708681.

Tropical rainforest, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Dr. Rohan Davis.

Analytical equipment. Photo by Atanas G. Atanasov.

Hep-2 signal activated cells. Image by Dr. Vassilis Doucas.

Flower blossoms at gardens by the bay Singapore-photo by Dr. Hemanth Kumar Boyina.

Saffron plants, Zapponeta (Foggia), South of Italy. Photo by Dr. Grazia D'Onofrio.

Blood cells colored with fluorescence dye. Photo by Dr. Davide Barreca.

Substance library. Photo by Dr. Nikolay Tzvetkov.

Lichens of the Eastern Morocco, Oujda, Morocco. Photo by Dr. Khalid El Bairi ©.

The Botanical Garden of Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Austria. Photo by Atanas G. Atanasov.

Lagoon of the seven cities, a twin lake in the crater of a dormant volcano in the western part of the São Miguel island (Azores, Portugal). Photo by Dr. Ana Sanches Silva.

Central Australian desert scene. Photo by Dr. Rohan Davis.

HEK293T cells. Photo by Atanas G. Atanasov.

Tropical rainforest, Queensland, Australia. Photo by Dr. Rohan Davis.

Australian ocean scene. Photo by Dr. Rohan Davis.

Laboratory equipment. Photo by Atanas G. Atanasov.

Rhododendron arboreum flower. Photo by Devesh Tewari.

The Valley of Flowers, Himalaya, India. Photo by Dr. Rajeshwari Singh.

Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA. Photo by Dr. Anupam Bishayee.

Euphorbia prolifera Buch. (Ham) Ex. Photo by Devesh Tewari.

Foothills of Himalaya, India. Photo by Devesh Tewari.

The Valley of Flowers, Himalaya, India. Photo by Dr. Rajeshwari Singh.

Eco-School Festival, Leiria-Portugal, Spring 2018

Polygonum maritimum (L.) (Polygonaceae)- Ourdania beach (Ain Temouchent- west Algeria)- taken by PhD. EL HACI Imad Abdelhamid

Flower blossoms at gardens by the bay Singapore-photo by Dr. Hemanth Kumar Boyina.

Keywords: DoesItWorkSummary, dietary carbohydrates, mortality,

animal-derived or plant-derived protein and fat, longevity expectations, diet, health effects, weight loss, higher intake of protein and fat.

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