Mary Vernon - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Mary Vernon
Nutrition Journal, Nov 1, 2007
<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Comparison of a low carbohydrate and lo... more <b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Comparison of a low carbohydrate and low fat diet for weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults enrolled in a clinical weight management program"http://www.nutritionj.com/content/6/1/36Nutrition Journal 2007;6():36-36.Published online 1 Nov 2007PMCID:PMC2228297.
Dietary carbohydrate restriction in type 2 diabetes mellitus and
The Active Low-Carber Forums (ALCF) is an on-line support group started in 2000 which currently h... more The Active Low-Carber Forums (ALCF) is an on-line support group started in 2000 which currently has more than 86,000 members. Data collected from posts to the forum and from an on-line survey were used to determine the behavior and attitudes of people on low carbohydrate diets. Members were asked to complete a voluntary 27-item questionnaire over the internet. Our major findings are as follows: survey respondents, like the membership at large, were mostly women and mostly significantly overweight, a significant number intending to and, in many cases, succeeding at losing more than 100 lbs. The great majority of members of ALCF identify themselves as following the Atkins diet or some variation of it. Although individual posts on the forum and in the narrative part of our survey are critical of professional help, we found that more than half of respondents saw a physician before or during dieting and, of those who did, about half received support from the physician. Another 28 % found...
The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strat... more The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strategies are needed if the epidemic is to be overcome. A promising nutritional approach suggested by this thematic review is carbohydrate restriction. Recent studies show that, under conditions of carbohydrate restriction, fuel sources shift from glucose and fatty acids to fatty acids and ketones, and that ad libitum–fed carbohydrate-restricted diets lead to appetite reduction, weight loss, and improvement in surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:276–84.
Before beginning the review of this book, we had no particular opinion about the role of low carb... more Before beginning the review of this book, we had no particular opinion about the role of low carbohydrate diets in diabetes. In order to write a fair and unbiased review, we have done a rather extensive search on the subject. One of the most disturbing findings of our search is the amount of hostility towards low carbohydrate diets that is on the web and in the scientific literature. We found several sites that present no scientific arguments but are, rather, full of ad hominem attacks. This was particularly disturbing in that we are in the midst of a growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes with very alarming figures and projections from all over the world. Any intervention that has the potential for helping curb this dangerous epidemic which claims thousands of lives every day should be looked at with a great deal of objectivity.
Nutrition & Metabolism, 2008
Current nutritional approaches to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes generally rely on reduct... more Current nutritional approaches to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes generally rely on reductions in dietary fat. The success of such approaches has been limited and therapy more generally relies on pharmacology. The argument is made that a re-evaluation of the role of carbohydrate restriction, the historical and intuitive approach to the problem, may provide an alternative and possibly superior dietary strategy. The rationale is that carbohydrate restriction improves glycemic control and reduces insulin fluctuations which are primary targets. Experiments are summarized showing that carbohydrate-restricted diets are at least as effective for weight loss as low-fat diets and that substitution of fat for carbohydrate is generally beneficial for risk of cardiovascular disease. These beneficial effects of carbohydrate restriction do not require weight loss. Finally, the point is reiterated that carbohydrate restriction improves all of the features of metabolic syndrome.
Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2005
... Department of Medicine Calgary Health Region and Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation Depa... more ... Department of Medicine Calgary Health Region and Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation Department of Medical Oncology Tom Baker Cancer ... Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2002;46:245-7. 3. Apostolidis J, Bouzani M, Platsouka E, Belasiotou H, Stamouli M, Harhalakis ...
The American Journal of Medicine, 1978
A 24 year old man had a nonproductive cough and chest pain. Chest roentgenogram showed a diffuse ... more A 24 year old man had a nonproductive cough and chest pain. Chest roentgenogram showed a diffuse infiltrate, and pulmonary function studies showed restrictive lung disease. Extremity weakness, deteriorating mental status and neuropathy progressed as pulmonary findings diminished on corticosteroid therapy. Lung biopsy showed lymphomatoid granulomatosis. The neurologic status deteriorated despite treatment with Cytoxan, intrathecal methotrexate and brain irradiation. Autopsy showed mass lesions of lymphomatoid granulomatosis in the brain and healed lesions in the lungs. A review of the neurologic and pulmonary findings in reported cases show that diminution of pulmonary disease with progression of neurologic disease manifest by mass lesion is unusual. Since the etiology, prognosis and prevalence of this disease remains undefined, all patients with this disease should be reported on.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2007
The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strat... more The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strategies are needed if the epidemic is to be overcome. A promising nutritional approach suggested by this thematic review is carbohydrate restriction. Recent studies show that, under conditions of carbohydrate restriction, fuel sources shift from glucose and fatty acids to fatty acids and ketones, and that ad libitum-fed carbohydrate-restricted diets lead to appetite reduction, weight loss, and improvement in surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.
Nutrition Journal, 2007
Background: Recent evidence suggests that a low carbohydrate (LC) diet may be equally or more eff... more Background: Recent evidence suggests that a low carbohydrate (LC) diet may be equally or more effective for short-term weight loss than a traditional low fat (LF) diet; however, less is known about how they compare for weight maintenance. The purpose of this study was to compare body weight (BW) for participants in a clinical weight management program, consuming a LC or LF weight maintenance diet for 6 months following weight loss. Methods: Fifty-five (29 low carbohydrate diet; 26 low fat diet) overweight/obese middle-aged adults completed a 9 month weight management program that included instruction for behavior, physical activity (PA), and nutrition. For 3 months all participants consumed an identical liquid diet (2177 kJ/day) followed by 1 month of re-feeding with solid foods either low in carbohydrate or low in fat. For the remaining 5 months, participants were prescribed a meal plan low in dietary carbohydrate (~20%) or fat (~30%). BW and carbohydrate or fat grams were collected at each group meeting. Energy and macronutrient intake were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months. Results: The LC group increased BW from 89.2 ± 14.4 kg at 3 months to 89.3 ± 16.1 kg at 9 months (P = 0.84). The LF group decreased BW from 86.3 ± 12.0 kg at 3 months to 86.0 ± 14.0 kg at 9 months (P = 0.96). BW was not different between groups during weight maintenance (P = 0.87). Fifty-five percent (16/ 29) and 50% (13/26) of participants for the LC and LF groups, respectively, continued to decrease their body weight during weight maintenance. Conclusion: Following a 3 month liquid diet, the LC and LF diet groups were equally effective for BW maintenance over 6 months; however, there was significant variation in weight change within each group.
Lipids in Health and Disease, 2010
Objectives: This study compared LDL, HDL, and VLDL subclasses in overweight or obese adults consu... more Objectives: This study compared LDL, HDL, and VLDL subclasses in overweight or obese adults consuming either a reduced carbohydrate (RC) or reduced fat (RF) weight maintenance diet for 9 months following significant weight loss. Methods: Thirty-five (21 RC; 14 RF) overweight or obese middle-aged adults completed a 1-year weight management clinic. Participants met weekly for the first six months and biweekly thereafter. Meetings included instruction for diet, physical activity, and behavior change related to weight management. Additionally, participants followed a liquid very low-energy diet of ~2092 kJ per day for the first three months of the study. Subsequently, participants followed a dietary plan for nine months that targeted a reduced percentage of carbohydrate (~20%) or fat (~30%) intake and an energy intake level calculated to maintain weight loss. Lipid subclasses using NMR spectroscopy were analyzed prior to weight loss and at multiple intervals during weight maintenance. Results: Body weight change was not significantly different within or between groups during weight maintenance (p > 0.05). The RC group showed significant increases in mean LDL size, large LDL, total HDL, large and small HDL, mean VLDL size, and large VLDL during weight maintenance while the RF group showed increases in total HDL, large and small HDL, total VLDL, and large, medium, and small VLDL (p < 0.05). Group*time interactions were significant for large and medium VLDL (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Some individual lipid subclasses improved in both dietary groups. Large and medium VLDL subclasses increased to a greater extent across weight maintenance in the RF group.
Nutrition journal, Jan 2, 2006
The Active Low-Carber Forums (ALCF) is an on-line support group started in 2000 which currently h... more The Active Low-Carber Forums (ALCF) is an on-line support group started in 2000 which currently has more than 86,000 members. Data collected from posts to the forum and from an on-line survey were used to determine the behavior and attitudes of people on low carbohydrate diets. Members were asked to complete a voluntary 27-item questionnaire over the internet. Our major findings are as follows: survey respondents, like the membership at large, were mostly women and mostly significantly overweight, a significant number intending to and, in many cases, succeeding at losing more than 100 lbs. The great majority of members of ALCF identify themselves as following the Atkins diet or some variation of it. Although individual posts on the forum and in the narrative part of our survey are critical of professional help, we found that more than half of respondents saw a physician before or during dieting and, of those who did, about half received support from the physician. Another 28 % found...
<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Comparison of a low carbohydrate and lo... more <b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Comparison of a low carbohydrate and low fat diet for weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults enrolled in a clinical weight management program"http://www.nutritionj.com/content/6/1/36Nutrition Journal 2007;6():36-36.Published online 1 Nov 2007PMCID:PMC2228297. LC = low carbohydrate group. LF = low fat group. No significant group*time interaction or within group differences (> 0.05).
Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2005
Nutrition & metabolism, 2005
The low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) may be effective for improving glycemia and reducing ... more The low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) may be effective for improving glycemia and reducing medications in patients with type 2 diabetes. From an outpatient clinic, we recruited 28 overweight participants with type 2 diabetes for a 16-week single-arm pilot diet intervention trial. We provided LCKD counseling, with an initial goal of <20 g carbohydrate/day, while reducing diabetes medication dosages at diet initiation. Participants returned every other week for measurements, counseling, and further medication adjustment. The primary outcome was hemoglobin A1c. Twenty-one of the 28 participants who were enrolled completed the study. Twenty participants were men; 13 were White, 8 were African-American. The mean [+/- SD] age was 56.0 +/- 7.9 years and BMI was 42.2 +/- 5.8 kg/m2. Hemoglobin A1c decreased by 16% from 7.5 +/- 1.4% to 6.3 +/- 1.0% (p < 0.001) from baseline to week 16. Diabetes medications were discontinued in 7 participants, reduced in 10 participants, and unchan...
Metabolic syndrome and related disorders, 2003
THE ETIOLOGY OF HYPERINSULINISM, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus is probably mul... more THE ETIOLOGY OF HYPERINSULINISM, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus is probably multi-factorial and as yet undetermined. It is known, however, that these hallmarks of the metabolic syndrome are highly associated with obesity.1 It is also known that treatment of obesity in patients with these disorders can result in lower insulin levels plus improvements in insulin sensitivity, glycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, which constitute the metabolic syndrome.2–5 Despite the multiple benefits, patients have extreme difficulty achieving and maintaining weight loss. American Diabetic Association (ADA) diet recommendations for type 2 diabetic patients include reduction of fat (especially saturated fats) and cholesterol intake combined with a relatively high carbohydrate intake.6 The aim of the “diabetic diet” is to reduce hyperlipidemia, a risk factor for heart disease.1 However, prospective studies of this diet are not convincing in regard to prevention of cardiac events,7 and this type of diet has been shown to increase triglycerides, postprandial blood glucose, and insulin levels as well as lower HDL cholesterol.8–11 In contrast, two recent randomized trials examining a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) demonstrated improvements in the above parameters, and one gave indication that the LCKD may be more effective than a low-fat diet for glycemic control in the sub-group of diabetics in the study.12,13 The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and metabolic effects of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) in overweight type 2 diabetic patients over 16 weeks.
Nutrition Journal, Nov 1, 2007
<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Comparison of a low carbohydrate and lo... more <b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Comparison of a low carbohydrate and low fat diet for weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults enrolled in a clinical weight management program"http://www.nutritionj.com/content/6/1/36Nutrition Journal 2007;6():36-36.Published online 1 Nov 2007PMCID:PMC2228297.
Dietary carbohydrate restriction in type 2 diabetes mellitus and
The Active Low-Carber Forums (ALCF) is an on-line support group started in 2000 which currently h... more The Active Low-Carber Forums (ALCF) is an on-line support group started in 2000 which currently has more than 86,000 members. Data collected from posts to the forum and from an on-line survey were used to determine the behavior and attitudes of people on low carbohydrate diets. Members were asked to complete a voluntary 27-item questionnaire over the internet. Our major findings are as follows: survey respondents, like the membership at large, were mostly women and mostly significantly overweight, a significant number intending to and, in many cases, succeeding at losing more than 100 lbs. The great majority of members of ALCF identify themselves as following the Atkins diet or some variation of it. Although individual posts on the forum and in the narrative part of our survey are critical of professional help, we found that more than half of respondents saw a physician before or during dieting and, of those who did, about half received support from the physician. Another 28 % found...
The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strat... more The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strategies are needed if the epidemic is to be overcome. A promising nutritional approach suggested by this thematic review is carbohydrate restriction. Recent studies show that, under conditions of carbohydrate restriction, fuel sources shift from glucose and fatty acids to fatty acids and ketones, and that ad libitum–fed carbohydrate-restricted diets lead to appetite reduction, weight loss, and improvement in surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:276–84.
Before beginning the review of this book, we had no particular opinion about the role of low carb... more Before beginning the review of this book, we had no particular opinion about the role of low carbohydrate diets in diabetes. In order to write a fair and unbiased review, we have done a rather extensive search on the subject. One of the most disturbing findings of our search is the amount of hostility towards low carbohydrate diets that is on the web and in the scientific literature. We found several sites that present no scientific arguments but are, rather, full of ad hominem attacks. This was particularly disturbing in that we are in the midst of a growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes with very alarming figures and projections from all over the world. Any intervention that has the potential for helping curb this dangerous epidemic which claims thousands of lives every day should be looked at with a great deal of objectivity.
Nutrition & Metabolism, 2008
Current nutritional approaches to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes generally rely on reduct... more Current nutritional approaches to metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes generally rely on reductions in dietary fat. The success of such approaches has been limited and therapy more generally relies on pharmacology. The argument is made that a re-evaluation of the role of carbohydrate restriction, the historical and intuitive approach to the problem, may provide an alternative and possibly superior dietary strategy. The rationale is that carbohydrate restriction improves glycemic control and reduces insulin fluctuations which are primary targets. Experiments are summarized showing that carbohydrate-restricted diets are at least as effective for weight loss as low-fat diets and that substitution of fat for carbohydrate is generally beneficial for risk of cardiovascular disease. These beneficial effects of carbohydrate restriction do not require weight loss. Finally, the point is reiterated that carbohydrate restriction improves all of the features of metabolic syndrome.
Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2005
... Department of Medicine Calgary Health Region and Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation Depa... more ... Department of Medicine Calgary Health Region and Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation Department of Medical Oncology Tom Baker Cancer ... Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2002;46:245-7. 3. Apostolidis J, Bouzani M, Platsouka E, Belasiotou H, Stamouli M, Harhalakis ...
The American Journal of Medicine, 1978
A 24 year old man had a nonproductive cough and chest pain. Chest roentgenogram showed a diffuse ... more A 24 year old man had a nonproductive cough and chest pain. Chest roentgenogram showed a diffuse infiltrate, and pulmonary function studies showed restrictive lung disease. Extremity weakness, deteriorating mental status and neuropathy progressed as pulmonary findings diminished on corticosteroid therapy. Lung biopsy showed lymphomatoid granulomatosis. The neurologic status deteriorated despite treatment with Cytoxan, intrathecal methotrexate and brain irradiation. Autopsy showed mass lesions of lymphomatoid granulomatosis in the brain and healed lesions in the lungs. A review of the neurologic and pulmonary findings in reported cases show that diminution of pulmonary disease with progression of neurologic disease manifest by mass lesion is unusual. Since the etiology, prognosis and prevalence of this disease remains undefined, all patients with this disease should be reported on.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2007
The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strat... more The persistence of an epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes suggests that new nutritional strategies are needed if the epidemic is to be overcome. A promising nutritional approach suggested by this thematic review is carbohydrate restriction. Recent studies show that, under conditions of carbohydrate restriction, fuel sources shift from glucose and fatty acids to fatty acids and ketones, and that ad libitum-fed carbohydrate-restricted diets lead to appetite reduction, weight loss, and improvement in surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease.
Nutrition Journal, 2007
Background: Recent evidence suggests that a low carbohydrate (LC) diet may be equally or more eff... more Background: Recent evidence suggests that a low carbohydrate (LC) diet may be equally or more effective for short-term weight loss than a traditional low fat (LF) diet; however, less is known about how they compare for weight maintenance. The purpose of this study was to compare body weight (BW) for participants in a clinical weight management program, consuming a LC or LF weight maintenance diet for 6 months following weight loss. Methods: Fifty-five (29 low carbohydrate diet; 26 low fat diet) overweight/obese middle-aged adults completed a 9 month weight management program that included instruction for behavior, physical activity (PA), and nutrition. For 3 months all participants consumed an identical liquid diet (2177 kJ/day) followed by 1 month of re-feeding with solid foods either low in carbohydrate or low in fat. For the remaining 5 months, participants were prescribed a meal plan low in dietary carbohydrate (~20%) or fat (~30%). BW and carbohydrate or fat grams were collected at each group meeting. Energy and macronutrient intake were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months. Results: The LC group increased BW from 89.2 ± 14.4 kg at 3 months to 89.3 ± 16.1 kg at 9 months (P = 0.84). The LF group decreased BW from 86.3 ± 12.0 kg at 3 months to 86.0 ± 14.0 kg at 9 months (P = 0.96). BW was not different between groups during weight maintenance (P = 0.87). Fifty-five percent (16/ 29) and 50% (13/26) of participants for the LC and LF groups, respectively, continued to decrease their body weight during weight maintenance. Conclusion: Following a 3 month liquid diet, the LC and LF diet groups were equally effective for BW maintenance over 6 months; however, there was significant variation in weight change within each group.
Lipids in Health and Disease, 2010
Objectives: This study compared LDL, HDL, and VLDL subclasses in overweight or obese adults consu... more Objectives: This study compared LDL, HDL, and VLDL subclasses in overweight or obese adults consuming either a reduced carbohydrate (RC) or reduced fat (RF) weight maintenance diet for 9 months following significant weight loss. Methods: Thirty-five (21 RC; 14 RF) overweight or obese middle-aged adults completed a 1-year weight management clinic. Participants met weekly for the first six months and biweekly thereafter. Meetings included instruction for diet, physical activity, and behavior change related to weight management. Additionally, participants followed a liquid very low-energy diet of ~2092 kJ per day for the first three months of the study. Subsequently, participants followed a dietary plan for nine months that targeted a reduced percentage of carbohydrate (~20%) or fat (~30%) intake and an energy intake level calculated to maintain weight loss. Lipid subclasses using NMR spectroscopy were analyzed prior to weight loss and at multiple intervals during weight maintenance. Results: Body weight change was not significantly different within or between groups during weight maintenance (p > 0.05). The RC group showed significant increases in mean LDL size, large LDL, total HDL, large and small HDL, mean VLDL size, and large VLDL during weight maintenance while the RF group showed increases in total HDL, large and small HDL, total VLDL, and large, medium, and small VLDL (p < 0.05). Group*time interactions were significant for large and medium VLDL (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Some individual lipid subclasses improved in both dietary groups. Large and medium VLDL subclasses increased to a greater extent across weight maintenance in the RF group.
Nutrition journal, Jan 2, 2006
The Active Low-Carber Forums (ALCF) is an on-line support group started in 2000 which currently h... more The Active Low-Carber Forums (ALCF) is an on-line support group started in 2000 which currently has more than 86,000 members. Data collected from posts to the forum and from an on-line survey were used to determine the behavior and attitudes of people on low carbohydrate diets. Members were asked to complete a voluntary 27-item questionnaire over the internet. Our major findings are as follows: survey respondents, like the membership at large, were mostly women and mostly significantly overweight, a significant number intending to and, in many cases, succeeding at losing more than 100 lbs. The great majority of members of ALCF identify themselves as following the Atkins diet or some variation of it. Although individual posts on the forum and in the narrative part of our survey are critical of professional help, we found that more than half of respondents saw a physician before or during dieting and, of those who did, about half received support from the physician. Another 28 % found...
<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Comparison of a low carbohydrate and lo... more <b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Comparison of a low carbohydrate and low fat diet for weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults enrolled in a clinical weight management program"http://www.nutritionj.com/content/6/1/36Nutrition Journal 2007;6():36-36.Published online 1 Nov 2007PMCID:PMC2228297. LC = low carbohydrate group. LF = low fat group. No significant group*time interaction or within group differences (> 0.05).
Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2005
Nutrition & metabolism, 2005
The low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) may be effective for improving glycemia and reducing ... more The low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) may be effective for improving glycemia and reducing medications in patients with type 2 diabetes. From an outpatient clinic, we recruited 28 overweight participants with type 2 diabetes for a 16-week single-arm pilot diet intervention trial. We provided LCKD counseling, with an initial goal of <20 g carbohydrate/day, while reducing diabetes medication dosages at diet initiation. Participants returned every other week for measurements, counseling, and further medication adjustment. The primary outcome was hemoglobin A1c. Twenty-one of the 28 participants who were enrolled completed the study. Twenty participants were men; 13 were White, 8 were African-American. The mean [+/- SD] age was 56.0 +/- 7.9 years and BMI was 42.2 +/- 5.8 kg/m2. Hemoglobin A1c decreased by 16% from 7.5 +/- 1.4% to 6.3 +/- 1.0% (p < 0.001) from baseline to week 16. Diabetes medications were discontinued in 7 participants, reduced in 10 participants, and unchan...
Metabolic syndrome and related disorders, 2003
THE ETIOLOGY OF HYPERINSULINISM, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus is probably mul... more THE ETIOLOGY OF HYPERINSULINISM, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus is probably multi-factorial and as yet undetermined. It is known, however, that these hallmarks of the metabolic syndrome are highly associated with obesity.1 It is also known that treatment of obesity in patients with these disorders can result in lower insulin levels plus improvements in insulin sensitivity, glycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, which constitute the metabolic syndrome.2–5 Despite the multiple benefits, patients have extreme difficulty achieving and maintaining weight loss. American Diabetic Association (ADA) diet recommendations for type 2 diabetic patients include reduction of fat (especially saturated fats) and cholesterol intake combined with a relatively high carbohydrate intake.6 The aim of the “diabetic diet” is to reduce hyperlipidemia, a risk factor for heart disease.1 However, prospective studies of this diet are not convincing in regard to prevention of cardiac events,7 and this type of diet has been shown to increase triglycerides, postprandial blood glucose, and insulin levels as well as lower HDL cholesterol.8–11 In contrast, two recent randomized trials examining a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) demonstrated improvements in the above parameters, and one gave indication that the LCKD may be more effective than a low-fat diet for glycemic control in the sub-group of diabetics in the study.12,13 The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and metabolic effects of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) in overweight type 2 diabetic patients over 16 weeks.