Short term effects of a low-carbohydrate diet in overweight and obese subjects with low HDL-C levels

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to evaluate short-term effects of a low-carbohydrate diet in overweight and obese subjects with low HDL-C levels.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Overweight (BMI between 25-30 kg/m²) or obese (BMI over 30 kg/m²) subjects with low HDL-C levels (men with HDL-C <1.03, women <1.29 mmol/l) were invited to the study. A 1400 kcal 75-gram carbohydrate (CHO) diet was given to women and an 1800 kcal 100-gram CHO diet was given to men for four weeks. The distribution of daily energy of the prescribed diet was 21-22% from CHO, 26-29% from protein and 49-53% from fat. Subjects completed a three-day dietary intake record before each visit. Anthropometric indices, body fat ratio, blood lipids, glucose and insulin were measured. Baseline and week-four results were compared with a Wilcoxon signed ranks test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-five women and 18 men participated. Basal median LDL-C level of men was 3.11 and basal median LDL-C level of women was 3.00 mmol/l. After four weeks of a low-carbohydrate diet, the median energy intake decreased from 1901 to 1307 kcal/day, daily energy from carbohydrate from 55% to 33%, body weight from 87.7 to 83.0 kg and HDL-C increased from 0.83 to 0.96 mmol/l in men (p < 0.002, for all). After four weeks of a low-carbohydrate diet, the median energy intake tended to decrease (from 1463 to 1243 kcal, p = 0.052), daily energy from carbohydrate decreased from 53% to 30% (p < 0.001) and body weight decreased from 73.2 to 70.8 kg (p < 0.001) in women, but HDL-C did not significantly change (from 1.03 to 1.01 mmol/l, p = 0.165). There were significant decreases in body mass index, waist circumference, body fat ratio, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride and insulin levels in all subjects.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>HDL-C levels increased significantly with energy restriction, carbohydrate restriction and weight loss in men. HDL-C levels didn't change in women in whom there was no significant energy restriction but a significant carbohydrate restriction and a relatively small but significant weight loss. Our results suggest that both energy and carbohydrate restriction should be considered in overweight and obese subjects with low HDL-C levels, especially when LDL-C levels are not elevated.</p

Jaw movement alters the reaction of human jaw muscles to incisor stimulation

The original publication can be found at www.springerlink.comThe changes in the minimum time to consciously react (reaction time) and the order of jaw muscle recruitment to precisely controlled axial stimulation of the incisors during controlled jaw movements are not known. To this end, ten subjects were recruited to investigate the reaction time of bilateral temporalis and masseter muscles and bite force. Stimuli were delivered axially to the upper central incisors during active jaw closing and opening, and under static conditions. The results showed that the reaction time was increased an average of 35% during both jaw opening and closing movements when compared with static jaw conditions. The left temporalis was recruited approximately 10 ms before the right temporalis, whereas no significant side differences were found between the masseter muscles. The masseter muscles were recruited an average of 20 ms before the temporalis muscles during jaw closing, but no difference existed during opening. Under static conditions the reaction time in the bite force was approximately 16 ms longer than the left temporalis, but was not significantly different from the reaction time of any of the other muscles, indicating that, under the static conditions tested, the left temporalis was more often responsible for initiation of the mechanical reactions in the jaw. Because of active compensation, no force measurements were made during jaw movement. This study is a prerequisite for investigations into the modulation of reflexes during jaw movement, because a response to a stimulus commencing after the minimum reaction time may not be entirely reflex in origin.Russell S. A. Brinkworth and Kemal S. Türke