Metabolic and anthropometric changes obese subjects from an unrestricted calorie, high monounsaturated fat, very low carbohydrate diet

Thirty volunteer obese subjects were placed on a high monounsaturated fat, very low carbohydrate (HMVLC) diet for 12 weeks. Subjects were screened ini tially with a 5 hour glucose/insulin tolerance test and a comprehensive pan el of nutritional and biochemical tests. They kept diet records and were co unseled weekly to achieve dietary targets of no more than 50 g carbohydrate daily, 1-2 g protein/kg ideal body weight and achieving at least 50% of di etary fats as monounsaturated fats. Biochemical and anthropometric testing were performed monthly. Twenty four subjects completed the 12-week program. When compared to a reference range derived from a lean population, 29 of 30 subjects demonstrated fasting hyperinsulinemia, and/or postprandial hyperi nsulinemia and/or inappropriate hyperinsulinemia with symptomatic postprand ial hypoglycemia. The average weight loss was 9.1 kg and the average waist measurement was re duced from 117 to 105 cm, No adverse effects were recorded in any test. Sub jects benefited by an average reduction in total cholesterol from 5.39 to 4 .82 mmol/L, triglycerides from 1.53 to 0.86 mmol/L, High density lipoprotei n cholesterol (HDLC) was unaffected. The use of a HMVLC diet proved a safe and effective therapeutic diet for weight loss over the 12 week test period .