Is the ketogenic diet more beneficial than a regular American diet combined with exercise for persons with metabolic syndrome?
Bethel University in Minnesota researchers believe so.
However, nutritionists believe it may be more complex.
The researchers wanted to see if a prolonged, regulated ketogenic diet might minimize the impact of metabolic syndrome and study participants’ weight, body mass index (BMI), and body fat mass.
They gathered 30 people who had been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, a set of illnesses that occur at the same time.
Excessive blood pressure, excessive blood sugar, extra body fat around the midsection, and abnormal cholesterol levels are examples of the disorders.
People with metabolic syndrome are more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke.
The individuals were divided into three groups at random by the researchers.
One group maintained a ketogenic diet with no activity.
Another had a typical American diet with little activity.
The third group maintained a regular American diet and exercised for 30 minutes three to five days weekly.
The ketogenic group had the most significant outcomes for weight loss, body fat percentage, and BMI decrease after 10 weeks.
“All variables for the ketogenic group outperformed those for the exercise and non-exercise groups, with five of the seven demonstrating statistical significance,” said the scientists.
The theory behind the keto diet
The ketogenic diet (sometimes known as “keto”) is a low-carb, high-fat diet that substantially lowers carbs and replaces them with fats.
The body responds to this decrease by entering a condition known as ketosis.
“Carbohydrates are the primary fuel our bodies were designed to use, as well as the only fuel used by the brain and heart muscles.” When we don’t eat enough carbs, our bodies turn to other energy sources to fill that need.
When we don’t eat carbohydrates, our insulin levels drop, and fat is liberated from our cells. “The liver converts fat into ketones, our body’s second choice for energy,” says Lauri Wright, PhD, an assistant professor of public health at the University of South Florida.
In medicine, the keto diet has been combined with other therapy to benefit children with epilepsy. This is done under the supervision of a medical practitioner.
However, whether the diet can be utilized safely for weight loss must be established.
“In the short term (as in this 10-week study), the ketogenic diet appears safe.” “However, we don’t have much evidence that it’s safe or sustainable in the long term,” Jennifer McDaniel, a registered dietician and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics representative, told Eathealthyisgood.
Wright expresses fear that a long-term keto diet might be harmful.
“Because ketone excretion can raise kidney pressure, there is concern about the effects on renal function.” “There is also concern about muscle mass loss due to relying on ketones for fuel,” she added.
What do the results mean?
Although the study’s findings revealed that individuals in the ketogenic group had the best weight reduction outcomes, Wright quickly points out that this does not necessarily imply that this is a more effective weight loss approach for this group.
“The greater weight loss was due to water loss rather than fat loss.” According to studies, water weight returns fast, and many people experience rebound weight gain due to nutrition restriction and changes in metabolic rate. “Body fat contributes to health problems,” she explained.
According to a 2015 study, metabolic syndrome affects around 35% of all individuals in the United States. This rises to 50% for individuals aged 60 and over.
Weight reduction is one of the most critical measures in avoiding and treating metabolic syndrome.
A balanced diet paired with exercise can help. According to experts, metabolic syndrome is less common among those who frequently engage in some physical activity.
The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests a heart-healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, low-fat or fat-free dairy, whole grains, seafood, and moderate portions of lean meat, poultry, and oils for patients with metabolic syndrome.
McDaniel believes reducing carbs benefits weight loss, but it does not have to be as drastic as the ketogenic group in the Bethel research.
“Low-carb diets, in general, are more effective for weight loss than the standard American diet.”
Low-carb diets can aid in weight loss, but they don’t have to be this drastic. “We have strong evidence that high-quality carbs with fiber and resistant starches, such as vegetables, beans, and whole grains, support weight loss and reduce metabolic syndrome risk factors,” she added.
According to Dana Hunnes, PhD, a senior dietitian at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, while the ketogenic group appears to have had superior outcomes, this may be owing to the shortcomings of the conventional American diet.
“Almost any diet other than the standard American diet could produce similar (perhaps attenuated) results.” A typical American diet is not a healthy one. It typically contains 30% fat, frequently high in saturated fat, and 50% or more carbohydrates, mainly processed carbs rich in sugar. “It’s a diet high in salt and low in fiber and other beneficial nutrients,” she explained.
“I’m not sure that comparing this diet (keto) to the standard American diet is really a fair analysis when they could have also compared it to other diets’known in the literature’ to reduce the risks for metabolic syndrome,” Hunnes said.
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