The Effect of a Low-Carbohydrate, High-Fat Diet versus Moderate-Carbohydrate and Fat Diet on Body Composition in Patients with Lipedema

Abstract

Lipedema is a disorder characterized by an excessive accumulation of subcutaneous body fat, mainly bilateral and symmetrical accumulation of fat deposits, particularly in the lower extremities excluding feet. Pain (spontaneous or with palpation) and increased capillary fragility with bruising are also part of clinical presentation. It is estimated to occur in approximately 11.0% of women worldwide. Management of obesity among patients with lipedema is a key component in its treatment. Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare effectiveness of two diets: low-carbohydrate-high-fat diet (LCHF) and medium-fatmedium-carbohydrate diet (MFMC) in body weight, body fat and limb circumference reduction in patients with lipedema. Material and Methods: The studied women (n = 91) were divided into 2 groups and submitted to 1 of the 2 diets for 16 weeks. Anthropometric measurements such as body height [cm], body weight [kg], body fat percentage [%], body fat [kg], lean body mass [kg], and visceral fat level were collected at the beginning and end of the study. Results: We have not found any significant differences in anthropometric measurements at the baseline between groups. Body weight and all anthropometric parameters decreased significantly in both groups after 16 weeks of diets, excluding the circumference above the right ankle for the MFMC diet which did not change. The LCHF diet contributed to reduction of body weight (−8.2 ± 4.1 kg vs −2.1 ± 1.0 kg; p < 0.0001), body fat (−6.4 ± 3.2 kg vs 1.6 ± 0.8 kg; p < 0.0001), waist (−7.8 ± 3.9 cm vs −2.3 ± 1.1 cm; p < 0.0001), hips (−7.4 ± 3.7 cm vs −2.5 ± 1.3 cm; p < 0.0001), thighs and calves' circumferences compared with the MFMC diet. We observed reduction of pain in the extremities and mobility improvement in LCHF group (data not shown). Conclusion:The LCHF diet was more effective than MFMC in body weight, body fat and lower limb circumferences reduction.

Ernährung bei Lipödem – Ein Evidenzupdate

“…Eine Studie aus Norwegen bestätigt dies und ergänzt: Sobald nach Low Carb eine kohlenhydratreichere Erhaltungsdiät einsetzt, kommen die Beschwerden trotz Gewichtserhalt zurück 5 . Eine andere Studie vergleicht erstmals zwei Diäten mit verschieden starker Kohlenhydrate Einsparung 6 . Low Carb erscheint hier deutlich wirksamer für Körpergewicht, Körperumfänge und Symptomatik.…”

Ernährung bei Lipödem – Ein Evidenzupdate

“…Eine andere Studie aus Polen verglich erstmals zwei Diäten mit verschieden starker Kohlenhydrat-Einsparung 7 . Low Carb erscheint hier deutlich wirksamer für Körpergewicht, Körperumfänge und Symptomatik.…”

“…Eine weitere polnische Studie ohne randomisierte Diätzuteilung zeigte bei Lipödem-Patientinnen unter Low-Carb-Behandlung teils bessere oder unveränderte metabolische Parameter, aber auch partiell verschlechterte Glukose- und LDL-Werte 8 . In der weltweit ersten (aus Russland stammenden) randomisiert-kontrollierten Studie zum Vergleich verschiedener hypokalorischer Diäten schneiden Low Fat und Low Carb nach 4 Wochen vergleichbar ab, mit Benefits für Körpergewicht und Stoffwechsel.…”

The Effect of a Low-Carbohydrate High-Fat Diet on Laboratory Parameters in Women with Lipedema in Comparison to Overweight/Obese Women

“…Obesity often co-occurs with lipedema [1, 9,10]. In our previous study, we demonstrated that 78% of patients with lipedema were overweight or obese based on the body mass index (BMI) [11]. Management of existing overweight or obesity is essential in lipedema treatment [1,2,6,7,11].…”