Difference Between Carbohydrates And Fat
The debate between those who advocate fat diet and those who believe that low-carbohydrate diet is the best solution has long been implacable.
A study by researchers in Denver and Gothenburg revealed that both sides may be right.
Obesity and diabetes type-2 has been primarily treated by replacing intake of fats with carbohydrates. A number of high profile trials in recent times have shown amazing effects by doing so.
Differences in metabolism?
Scientists from research institutes in Denver and Gothenburg have investigated that there is a possibility of a difference in the metabolism of normal individuals and individuals with impaired insulin sensitivity.
If diabetics have less ability to burn carbohydrates than healthy individuals, then the contradictory dieting results could be explained.
The study involved 21 obese women, of whom 12 had normal insulin sensitivity and nine were insulin resistant (diabetic).
Randomly they chose to belong to either group high carbohydrates low fat diet (60 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent fat and 20 percent protein) or high fat low carbohydrate diet (40 percent carbohydrates, 40 percent fat and 20 percent protein).
The intake was in lesser amount of calories than the usual consumption by women and the trial lasted 16 weeks.
As expected, all the subjects lost weight but not to the same extent.
While women with normal insulin sensitivity reduced weight by nearly twice as much as in the group of the low fat diet as compared to the low carbohydrate diet, however, the pattern was opposite in case of insulin-resistant.
The researchers had not certain explanations for the difference.
Carbohydrate is best for diabetics
The results of this study showed that in healthy subjects with obesity, a fatty diet may be the best treatment, while a low-carbohydrate appeared to be as the solution for patients with insulin resistance or frank diabetes.