whole book.4th print

recommendations, makes it impossible to draw conclusions between a ketogenic diet and a more
typical high-carbohydrate diet deriving 55-60% of its total calories from carbohydrate.

Table 2: changes in body composition

Group Carb Protein Fat Weight Fat LBM

(g) (g) (g) loss (kg) loss (kg) loss (kg)

High 1 1 0 4 1 1 5 1 0 3 8.5 6.6 1.9

2 13.9 10.2 2.7

Medium 1 60 115 122 13.4 9.9 3.5

2 11.6 9.9 1.7

3 11.8 10.9 0.9

Low 1 30 115 133 Not measured

2 15.3 14.7 0.6

3 16.0 15.0 1.0

Source: Young CM et. al. Effect on body composition and other parameters in young men of
carbohydrate reduction in diet. Am J Clin Nutr (1971) 24: 290-296.

Two recent studies, both at 1200 calories found no significant difference in the weight or fat
loss between groups consuming high- or low-carbohydrate diets (27,28) However, an examination
of the data shows a trend towards greater fat loss in the lower carbohydrate groups with less
protein loss. The data is summarized below in table 3.

Table 3: Changes in body composition for high- and low-carbohydrate diets

Study Length CarbsProtein Weight Fat LBM

(weeks) (g) (g) loss (kg) loss (kg) loss (kg)*

Golay (27) 12 75 86 10.2 8.1 2.1

135 86 8.6 7.1 1.4

Alford (28) 10 75 90 6.4 5.7 0.7

135 60 5.4 4.5 0.9

225 45 4.8 3.7 1.1

*Determined as the difference between total weight loss and fat loss

Note: in both studies, the difference in weight, fat and LBM loss was not statistically

significant, due to the high degree of variability among subjects.

Source: Golay A et al. Weight-loss with low or high carbohydrate diet? Int J Obes (1996) 20:
1067-1072 ; and Alford BB et. al. The effects of variations in carbohydrate, protein and fat
content of the diet upon weight loss, blood values, and nutrient intake of adult women. J Am Diet
Assoc (1990) 90: 534-540.