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

Abstract

Introduction

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-fat-medium-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.

Keywords:

• lipedema
• low carbohydrate high fat diet
• low-glycemic index diet
• anti-inflammatory diet
• body composition

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Andrzej Szuba and Angelika Chachaj from Department of Angiology, Hypertension & Diabetology, for referee of the patients to the Department of Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy (Wroclaw Medical University). The authors thank Monika Sowicz and Agnieszka Adaszyńska from Department of Angiology, Hypertension & Diabetology, for cooperation, including taking and sharing photos of patients with lipedema.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.