Zitat:
Research is far from clear in determining the ideal macronutrient distribution for weight loss and weight maintenance and the safety/efficacy and advantages/disadvantages of the diverse approaches to weight control promoted in the lay press. Commercial weight-loss diets vary from ultra low low-fat (Ornish; Pritikin) to ultra low-carbohydrate (Atkins) and everything in between.
(...)
Despite the importance of this issue, surprisingly few randomised clinical trials have examined the impact of diets differing in macronutrient composition on weight loss and maintenance.
(...)
[An] issue not adequately addressed in previous research is whether fat restriction affects the composition of weight loss. In a meta-analysis, Garrow and Summerbell [40] predict from regression analysis that for a weight loss of 10kg by dieting alone the expected loss of fat mass is 71% (...)
Whether fat restriction per se affects the composition of weight loss was not specifically addressed in the meta-analysis, but there is some indication that composition of weight loss might be more favourable with a diet higher in protein or lower in carbohydrate.
Zu einem ähnlichen Fazit kommt Kevin Acheson im Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care [2]:
Zitat:
Where obesity is concerned almost everyone, whether scientist or layperson, has a pet hypothesis on ist aetiology, prevention and cure. There are many possible macronutrient paradigms that work for some, but not for others, and consequently it is possible to find arguments in the scientific literature for or against any particular diet. However, from this non-exhaustive review, and other literature that has not been cited, a common theme did appear to emerge among diets that have been successful for reducing body weight and/or improving cardiovascular risk factors. Although apparently disparate in description, (such as low-carbohydrate; high-protein; low-glycaemic index; ketogenic), many of the diets do have something in common and that is a carbohydrate/protein ratio less than 2, which Layman et al.[27] consider to be essential for partitioning weight loss towards body fat.
Zur eigentlichen Frage: Es gibt, wie schon angedeutet, sehr wohl Hinweise dafür, dass "Carb-Control-Diäten" unter Umständen die Körperzusammensetzung günstig beeinflussen.
Zitat:
It is frequently claimed that additional weight loss with low-carbohydrate diets is entirely explained by dehydration.
However, the classic study by Rabast et al. demonstrated that alterations in the water and electrolyte balance observed during the lowcarbohydrate diets are reversible phenomena and should thus not be regarded as causal agents of the different weight reduction. Also, the modern studies that measured body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry did not find any indication of excessive reduction in lean body mass. Thus, the greater weight loss is attributable to fat loss.
Aufgrund der Tatsache, dass Studien an Menschen immer mit verschiedenen methodischen Schwierigkeiten verbunden sind, macht es hin und wieder auch Sinn, Rattenstudien in Betracht zu ziehen. Eine interessante Studie, auf welche ich schon mehrfach hingewiesen habe, ist dabei die Studie von McCargar et al. welche zu dem Ergebnis kam, dass die Makronährstoffverteilung einen sehr deutlichen Einfluss hatte.[4]