M. Najafi, Z. Hariri, O. Nikpayam, AH. Sarvi, M. Pasand, P. Noura, et al. (2025). The effects of low carbohydrate and high protein diet on the anthropometric indices, blood pressure, metabolic factors, and hormones related to metabolism: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes & metabolic syndrome, 19(12), 103352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2025.103352

PubMed 41380349

[Abstract]
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The present study aimed to show the pooled effect of a low-carbohydrate high-protein diet (LCHPD) as a practical dietary approach on metabolic factors and anthropometric variables.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: A systematic search based on related keywords was performed from electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception until November 2024. The quality of the articles was evaluated using the Cochrane tool. Statistical analysis was conducted using STATA software.

RESULTS: Sixteen articles were entered into the quantitative analysis. In total, 2915 participants (treatment: 1490 and control: 1425) entered the statistical analysis. Based on the statistical analysis LCHPD had desirable effects on the weight (SMD = -0.27; 95 % CI: -0.35, -0.19), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (SMD = -0.23; 95 % CI: -0.31, -0.25) diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (SMD = -0.12; 95 % CI: -0.21, -0.04), fasting blood sugar (FBG) (SMD = -0.34; 95 % CI: -0.43, -0.24), triglyceride (TG) (SMD = -0.29; 95 % CI: -0.38, -0.19), leptin (SMD = -0.57; 95 % CI: -0.68, -0.46), and, CRP (SMD = -0.38; 95 % CI: -0.49, -0.27), while it impressively increase serum level of total cholesterol (SMD = 0.36; 95 % CI: 0.26, 0.45), adiponectin (SMD = 0.40; 95 % CI: 0.29, 0.52), resistin, and (SMD = 1.08; 95 % CI: 0.96, 1.20). In addition, subgroup analysis was conducted based on the age of participants, duration of treatment, and type of disease.

CONCLUSION: Overall findings of the present study exhibited that LCHPD had a significant effect on the anthropometric indices, blood pressure, and metabolic factors.