Comparison of the effects of long-term moderate and low fat diets on metabolic risk factors

To determine the effects of long term moderate fat diet (30% of energy from fat) vs low fat (20% of energy from fat) diet on metabolic risks. A randomized, prospective 14-month trial on overweight and obese patients, a total of 89 overweight and obese men and women. Intervention: (1) Moderate-fat diet (30% of energy), (2) Low fat diet (20% of energy). Main Outcome Measurements: Change in body weight, waist circumference, LDL-C, HDL-C, total cholesterol, triglyceride, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. 45 subjects on a moderate fat diet and 44 subjects, on a low fat one were studied. Characteristics of all randomized participants were similar in both groups. After 7 months the moderate and low fat diets had similar effects on cardiovascular risks. The moderate fat diet was more successful after 14 months in reducing weight (-5.0±2.5 kg in the moderate group vs –1.2±1.1 kg in the low fat one p<0.0001), waist circumference (-5.5±2.4 cm in the moderate group vs – 2.3±1.3 cm in the low fat one p<0.0001), and other cardiovascular risk factors as well(LDL, triglycerides, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure). A moderate fat diet, controlled for energy intake long term might have more beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors as compared to a low-fat diet.