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Journal Article Epublish 1 citation

PubMed: 40166766 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcrp.2025.200384

Low carbohydrate high fat-diet in real life; A descriptive analysis of cardiovascular risk factors.

Int J Cardiol Cardiovasc Risk Prev 25:200384

Authors: Henrik Hagström, Linda Nyström Hagfors, Rikard Hedelin, Mattias Brunström, Krister Lindmark

Affiliations

  • Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
  • Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Abstract

Aims

Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF) diets are popular for weight loss or glucose control. The main source of energy in such diets is fat but the composition of nutrients varies This study aims to investigate dietary variations in a real-world LCHF population and its associations with cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods

We recruited 100 volunteers who considered themselves adherent to a LCHF diet. Their last 14 days of dietary intake was assessed using diet history interviews. Validation of energy intake against expenditure was made using activity monitors. Predictive variables for the linear regression models were selected using stepwise bidirectional assessment of Akaike information criterion (AIC).

Results

Energy intake (E%) from carbohydrates was low, 8.7 E%, and fat was the main replacement. Dietary cholesterol was associated with higher total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Dietary sodium intake was associated with higher blood pressure. Protein intake was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure but also with lower HDL. The intake of dietary fibre was associated with lower LDL and total cholesterol but with higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The intake of carbohydrates and saturated fatty acids (SFA) was not associated with any of the outcome variables.

Conclusion

In this LCHF population, variations in intake of carbohydrates and saturated fatty acids could not predict any aspects of the cardiovascular risk profile. Lower fibre intake and higher cholesterol and sodium intake predicted a less favorable cardiovascular risk profile.

MeSH

Blood, Lipoproteins, Blood Pressure, Diet, High-Fat, Diet, Cholesterol, Risk Factors, Carbohydrates, Heart Disease Risk Factors, Fatty Acids

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