[The effects of various reducing diets in adiposity (author's transl)]

The effects of three different hypocaloric diets on serum electrolytes, metabolites and enzyme activities were investigated for 3 weeks in 40 overweight patients. A 600 kcal mixed diet was as effective with regard to daily weight reduction as complete fasting or a low-energy protein diet. Only the patients of the last two groups complained of orthostatic dysregulation, nausea, headache and dryness of the skin. Neither a decrease in serum potassium, an increase in creatinine nor any other side-effects were observed in the mixed diet group. - Since the 600 kcal mixed diet can be carried out under ambulant conditions it is preferable to the other reducing diets.