Effect of a walnut-based low carbohydrate diet on fat redistribution and visceral fat accumulation in people with
Qingqing Dong1, Xiaohan Tan2, Ping Feng2
1Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
Background And Objectives:
The aim of this study was to determine whether a walnut-based low carbohydrate diet (w-LCD) promotes fat redistribution and reduces visceral fat accumulation in people with central obesity (CO).
Methods And Study Design:
This study was a 12-week prospective randomized controlled trial. CO participants were recruited and assigned to the w-LCD group or high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet (HCD) group. According to "2021 Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy of Overweight and Obesity", the HCD program was constructed; based on the HCD program, the w-LCD program was formed by replacing 150 grams/day of staple food with walnuts rich in healthy fat. The visceral fat area (VFA), trunk to leg fat ratio (TLR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks.
Results:
The Group × Time interaction effects were significant for TLR (η² = 0.071, p = 0.039) and VFA (η² = 0.093, p = 0.014) with moderate effect, and body mass index (BMI, η² = 0.168, p = 0.001) with large effect. Although comparison be-tween groups revealed no significant on TLR, VFA and BMI at 12 weeks, comparison within groups showed all decreased with large effect on TLR (η² = 0.174, p = 0.001), VFA (η² = 0.393, p <0.001) and BMI (η² = 0.399, p <0.001) in the w-LCD group over time.
Conclusions:
A w-LCD achieves a significantly greater and faster fat reduction over time compared to the control group, providing a solid evidence-based foundation for dietary management in people with CO.
