Elevated LDL Cholesterol with a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet: Evidence for a "Lean Mass Hyper-Responder" Phenotype

People commencing a carbohydrate-restricted diet (CRD) experience markedly heterogenous responses in LDL cholesterol, ranging from extreme elevations to reductions.

The aim was to elucidate possible sources of heterogeneity in LDL cholesterol response to a CRD and thereby identify individuals who may be at risk for LDL cholesterol elevation.

Hypothesis-naive analyses were conducted on web survey data from 548 adults consuming a CRD. Univariate and multivariate regression models and regression trees were built to evaluate the interaction between body mass index (BMI) and baseline lipid markers. Data were also collected from a case series of five clinical patients with extremely high LDL cholesterol consuming a CRD.

BMI was inversely associated with LDL cholesterol change. Low triglyceride (TG) to HDL cholesterol ratio, a marker of good metabolic health, predicted larger LDL cholesterol increases. A subgroup of respondents with LDL cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL, HDL cholesterol ≥80 mg/dL, and TG ≤70 mg/dL were characterized as "lean mass hyper-responders." Respondents with this phenotype (n = 100) had a lower BMI and, remarkably, similar prior LDL cholesterol versus other respondents. In the case series, moderate reintroduction of carbohydrate produced a marked decrease in LDL cholesterol.

These data suggest that, in contrast to the typical pattern of dyslipidemia, greater LDL cholesterol elevation on a CRD tends to occur in the context of otherwise low cardiometabolic risk.