Eat
Low-carb, no sugar, no junk: what the evidence shows
Where cutting carbohydrates clearly helps, where it is no better than other diets, and what to watch: LDL, fats and long-term safety.
Compiled by Jayakanthan, Richmond, Virginia
Last reviewed against sources: October 25, 2026
On this page
- 1What "low-carb" means in the studies
- 2Type 2 diabetes: control and remission
- 3Weight: calories, insulin, and the big debate
- 4Cholesterol, LDL and ApoB
- 5Ghee, coconut oil, gingelly oil and saturated fat
- 6Zero added sugar and no ultra-processed food
- 7The chart's other health claims
- 8Is it safe long term?
- 9Who says what
This site is curated for my own family members. It is not a recommendation or a diet plan for anyone else. Do not change your diet, start fasting, or change any medicine without your own doctor's advice. We are not responsible for any consequences of following this information without proper medical supervision.
- Type 2 diabetes: low-carb lowers HbA1c and medication needs more than higher-carb diets over 3 to 6 months A. The advantage mostly fades by 12 to 24 months in pooled trials B[1,2].
- Remission is real, and it tracks weight loss. Low-carb is one road to it; a low-calorie formula diet (DiRECT) is another B[2,3].
- Weight: low-carb and low-fat end up within about 1 kg of each other over a year A[4,5]. Pick the one you can keep.
- Cholesterol: triglycerides fall and HDL rises A. LDL rises in some people, most in lean people B[6].
- Sugar and ultra-processed food: the strongest, least controversial part of the chart B[7,8].
- For Indians: the national ICMR-INDIAB data point to moderate carb reduction with more protein, about half of calories from carbs rather than strict keto C[9].
1What "low-carb" means in the studies#
| Term | Carbohydrate per day | Roughly looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Typical Indian diet | 250 to 350 g, most of calories | Rice or chapati at every meal, idli or dosa at breakfast, tea and snacks |
| Moderate | 130 to 225 g (about 26 to 45% of calories) | Small rice portion once a day, no sugar, plenty of vegetables and protein |
| Low-carb | 50 to 130 g (under 26%) | No rice or wheat at most meals; dal and fruit in small amounts |
| Very low-carb / ketogenic | under about 50 g (under 10%) | The Tamil Paleo chart: eggs, meat, paneer, nuts, vegetables, ghee |
Definitions from the BMJ meta-analysis[2] and Diabetes UK's 2021 position statement, which calls 50 to 130 g a day a safe and effective short-term option for adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight, while saying it "shouldn't be seen as the diet for everyone"[10].
2Type 2 diabetes: control and remission#
In a meta-analysis of trials in adults with diabetes, diets under 26% carbohydrate lowered HbA1c by about half a point more at 3 months (0.47) and by 0.36 at 6 months, but not significantly at 12 or 24 months[1]. Two other meta-analyses agree on the pattern: clear early benefit that shrinks after a year[11,2]. In a 24-week trial, 95% of the ketogenic group reduced or stopped diabetes medicines, against 62% on a low-glycemic diet[12].
Why the fade? Low-carb researchers point to people drifting back to 30 to 40% carbs during long trials. Critics read it as no unique long-term advantage. Both may be true: it works while you do it.
Partly: remission happens, mostly through weight loss
- In the BMJ meta-analysis, 57% of people on low-carb reached remission at 6 months against 31% on control diets, but that counted people still on medicine. Drug-free remission effects were smaller and not significant[2].
- Virta Health (Phinney, Volek, the late Sarah Hallberg): in a non-randomized program with remote coaching, HbA1c fell from 7.6% to 6.3% in a year, insulin was cut or stopped in 94% of users, and sulfonylureas were stopped. LDL rose 10%[13]. At 5 years, 20% of those who stayed in the program were in remission[14]. The company funded and ran the studies, and many participants dropped out.
- Dr David Unwin's NHS practice in England: 51% of patients who chose low-carb reached drug-free remission over 8 years, about 20% of all the practice's type 2 patients[15]. Not randomized; these are people who chose it.
- DiRECT, the strongest remission trial, was not low-carb. It used an 825 to 853 kcal formula diet for 3 to 5 months: 46% remission at 1 year against 4%[3], falling to 13% at 5 years[16].
The common thread is losing a meaningful amount of weight, especially liver and abdominal fat. Low-carb is one practical way to do that, and for Indians who eat rice three times a day it is often the most obvious one.
Diabetes UK calls 50 to 130 g a day a safe and effective short-term option for adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight, not recommended for type 1 diabetes or children, and it emphasises vegetables, fruit, whole grains, pulses, fish and nuts while limiting red and processed meat[10]. The American Diabetes Association's nutrition consensus says reducing total carbohydrate has the most evidence for improving blood sugar, and treats low and very low-carb plans as one option among several[17].
3Weight: calories, insulin, and the big debate#
In DIETFITS, a year-long JAMA trial, healthy low-carb lost 6.0 kg and healthy low-fat 5.3 kg: no real difference, and neither genes nor insulin levels predicted who did better[4]. Across long-term trials, low-carb comes out about 1.15 kg ahead[5].
Contested
David Ludwig's carbohydrate-insulin model argues that refined, fast-digesting carbs drive insulin, fat storage and hunger[18]. In his feeding trial, people burned about 209 kcal a day more on low-carb while maintaining weight[19]. Kevin Hall at the NIH found the opposite in an inpatient study: people ate 689 kcal a day less on a low-fat plant diet than on an animal-based keto diet[20]. Both camps agree on the practical point: cutting refined carbs and ultra-processed food helps many people eat less.
4Cholesterol, LDL and ApoB#
Consistent across trials; Virta reported triglycerides down 24% and HDL up 18% at a year[13,21].
A 2024 meta-analysis of trials found the leaner people were at the start, the more LDL rose; in trials where average BMI was under 25, LDL went up by about 41 mg/dL[6]. Some lean low-carb followers, called "lean mass hyper-responders", see LDL over 200 mg/dL[22].
Not established
A cross-sectional study of 100 long-term keto followers with very high LDL (average 272 mg/dL) found their coronary plaque was similar to matched controls[23]. But this was a self-selected group compared with an outside cohort, and the follow-up paper reporting that "ApoB does not predict plaque" was retracted in 2026 over methodological concerns[24]. Meanwhile, genetic studies, statin trials and every major cardiology body treat LDL and ApoB as a cause of atherosclerosis. If your LDL or ApoB jumps, take it seriously.
South Asians start at higher risk: in the US MASALA study, 23% of South Asians had diabetes against 6% of white Americans[25], and in England South Asians reached the diabetes risk of a white person with BMI 30 at a BMI of just 23.9[26]. That is why a lipid panel with ApoB and a one-time Lp(a) before and 3 months after starting is part of this plan.
5Ghee, coconut oil, gingelly oil and saturated fat#
The Cochrane review found cutting saturated fat in long-term trials lowered combined cardiovascular events by 17%, more when it was replaced with polyunsaturated fat, with little or no effect on deaths[27]. Replacing it with sugar and refined starch does not help[28,29]. Arne Astrup and colleagues argue for judging whole foods (full-fat dairy, unprocessed meat) rather than a single nutrient[30]. Harvard cohorts link saturated fat to slightly higher mortality and polyunsaturated fat to lower[31].
| Fat | What the evidence says | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Coconut oil | Raises LDL by about 10 mg/dL compared with vegetable oils, in a meta-analysis of 16 trials[32]. A 2-year Kerala trial in 200 heart patients found no difference from sunflower oil, but it was too small to detect differences in heart events[33]. | A on LDL |
| Ghee | Very few human studies; one small 8-week trial in young Indians[34]. It is mostly saturated fat, so expect butter-like effects on LDL. Use it for taste, not as a health food. | C |
| Gingelly (sesame) oil | Small open-label Indian studies suggest lower blood pressure[35]. Rich in unsaturated fat, a sensible everyday oil. | C |
| Groundnut, sunflower and other "seed" oils | Cohorts link higher linoleic acid (omega-6) intake to 15% fewer heart events[36]. Recovered data from 1960s-70s trials raised doubts[37], but those used margarines with trans fats. The chart bans all refined oils; the evidence does not support calling them toxic. | B against harm |
| Cold-pressed vs refined | No outcome trials. Cold-pressed keeps more polyphenols; refined tolerates high heat. Do not reuse frying oil. | D |
| "Bulletproof" coffee (butter or ghee and MCT oil) | No outcome trials. It replaces a meal with a large dose of saturated fat. | D |
Practical: cook mostly in gingelly, groundnut or olive oil; use ghee and coconut for flavour rather than by the spoonful; add fish, nuts and seeds. If your LDL or ApoB climbs, cut the ghee, butter, coconut oil and cheese first.
6Zero added sugar and no ultra-processed food#
The WHO strongly recommends keeping free sugars (added sugar, honey, jaggery, syrups and fruit juice) under 10% of calories, ideally under 5%, about 6 teaspoons a day[7]. Sugar in whole fruit and milk is not counted. One to two sugary drinks a day carries about 26% higher type 2 diabetes risk[38]. Jaggery, honey and palm sugar count as sugar. "Zero added sugar" is stricter than the WHO asks, and a reasonable personal rule.
In an NIH inpatient trial where meals were matched for sugar, fat, fiber and calories on offer, people ate 508 kcal a day more on ultra-processed food and gained 0.9 kg in two weeks; on unprocessed food they lost 0.9 kg[8]. A BMJ umbrella review found ultra-processed food linked to 32 of 45 health outcomes, mostly from observational studies C[39]. For an Indian pantry: packaged biscuits, namkeen, instant noodles, frozen parathas, bakery puffs, sweetened "health" drinks like Bournvita, and most mithai.
7The chart's other health claims#
| Claim | Evidence | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Fatty liver | Low-carb lowers liver fat in trials, mostly through weight loss; any diet that cuts calories helps[40,41] | B |
| Blood pressure | Modest falls in keto trials, likely via weight loss and fluid loss[42] | B |
| Epilepsy | Proven medical therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy in children, under a neurologist and dietitian[43] | A |
| PCOS | Small, short studies show better lipids and weight; little fertility data[44] | C |
| Migraine | One Italian group's small trials of very-low-calorie keto in overweight people[45] | C |
| Acid reflux | Cutting simple sugar reduced acid exposure in one trial of 98 veterans[46] | C |
| Psoriasis | Single-arm studies; weight loss itself helps psoriasis | C |
| Mood | Small uncontrolled pilots in serious mental illness[47]; not for anyone on lithium without their psychiatrist | C |
| Thyroid "regulation" | Low-carb lowers T3 while TSH stays normal[48]; no evidence it treats thyroid disease | D |
| Arthritis, libido, eyesight, sound sleep, "skin cleansing" | No trials found. Weight loss helps knee arthritis and sleep apnoea, but not because of this diet specifically. | D |
| Protection from gestational diabetes | No trials; a low-carb, animal-heavy pattern before pregnancy was linked to more gestational diabetes[49] | ✕ |
8Is it safe long term?#
No trial has followed low-carb eaters for heart attacks or deaths. Large cohorts show:
- A U-shaped curve: lowest mortality at about 50 to 55% of calories from carbs. Replacing carbs with animal fat and protein was linked to higher mortality; replacing them with plant fats and proteins, to lower[50].
- In 18 countries including India, the highest-carb fifth (about 77% of calories, common in South Asia) had 28% higher mortality than the lowest[51].
- In US national data, "unhealthy" low-carb (animal-based, refined) was linked to higher mortality and "healthy" low-carb (plant fats and proteins, whole foods) to lower[52].
So both extremes look worse than the middle, and the quality of food matters more than the label. For a typical Indian diet at 65 to 75% carbohydrate, moving toward 40 to 50% with more vegetables, protein and unsaturated fat is where cohorts and the ICMR-INDIAB modelling agree[9,53].
In people without kidney disease, higher-protein diets do not reduce kidney function[54]. With existing kidney disease, it is different: see who should wait.
9Who says what#
| Researcher | Position |
|---|---|
| Jeff Volek and Stephen Phinney | Well-formulated nutritional ketosis with medical support can reverse type 2 diabetes. Co-founders of Virta Health.[13] |
| Eric Westman (Duke) | Low-carb ketogenic diets cut diabetes medicines more than low-GI diets.[12] |
| David Ludwig (Harvard) | Refined carbs drive insulin, hunger and fat storage (carbohydrate-insulin model).[18] |
| David Unwin (NHS GP) | Low-carb in primary care achieves drug-free remission and saves money.[15] |
| Kevin Hall (NIH) | Energy balance; ultra-processed food drives overeating; low-fat beat keto for intake in his ward.[20,8] |
| Christopher Gardner (Stanford) | Healthy low-fat and healthy low-carb work about equally; quality matters most.[4] |
| Walter Willett and Frank Hu (Harvard) | Type of fat and carb matter; plant-based low-carb fine, animal-based worse.[31,52] |
| V. Mohan (MDRF, Chennai) | Indian diets have too many refined carbs and too little protein; moderate reduction plus more protein.[53,55] |
| Anoop Misra (Fortis C-DOC, Delhi) | Asian Indian-specific targets: lower BMI cut-offs, less refined carbs and sugar, careful oil choices.[56] |
Sources on this page
Every source below was checked against its PubMed, DOI or publisher page. Grades and how we use them: evidence grades.
- Sainsbury E, Kizirian NV, Partridge SR, et al. (2018). Effect of dietary carbohydrate restriction on glycemic control in adults with diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 139:239-252. PMID 29522789 · doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2018.02.026 - Meta-analysis of RCTs
- Goldenberg JZ, Day A, Brinkworth GD, et al. (2021). Efficacy and safety of low and very low carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes remission: systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished randomized trial data.. BMJ 372:m4743. PMID 33441384 · doi:10.1136/bmj.m4743 - Meta-analysis, 23 RCTs, 1,357 people
- Lean ME, Leslie WS, Barnes AC, et al. (2018). Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT): an open-label, cluster-randomised trial.. Lancet 391(10120):541-551. PMID 29221645 · doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33102-1 - Cluster RCT, low-calorie formula diet (not low-carb)
- Gardner CD, Trepanowski JF, Del Gobbo LC, et al. (2018). Effect of Low-Fat vs Low-Carbohydrate Diet on 12-Month Weight Loss in Overweight Adults and the Association With Genotype Pattern or Insulin Secretion: The DIETFITS Randomized Clinical Trial.. JAMA 319(7):667-679. PMID 29466592 · doi:10.1001/jama.2018.0245 - DIETFITS RCT, 12 months
- Tobias DK, Chen M, Manson JE, et al. (2015). Effect of low-fat diet interventions versus other diet interventions on long-term weight change in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 3(12):968-979. PMID 26527511 · doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(15)00367-8 - Meta-analysis of trials of 1 year or more
- Soto-Mota A, Flores-Jurado Y, Norwitz NG, et al. (2024). Increased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol on a low-carbohydrate diet in adults with normal but not high body weight: A meta-analysis.. Am J Clin Nutr 119(3):740-747. PMID 38237807 · doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.01.009 - Meta-regression of RCTs
- World Health Organization (2015). Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children. WHO, Geneva. Link - WHO guideline
- Hall KD, Ayuketah A, Brychta R, et al. (2019). Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake.. Cell Metab 30(1):67-77.e3. PMID 31105044 · doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2019.05.008 - Inpatient randomized crossover, n=20
- Anjana RM, Srinivasan S, Sudha V, et al. (2022). Macronutrient Recommendations for Remission and Prevention of Diabetes in Asian Indians Based on a Data-Driven Optimization Model: The ICMR-INDIAB National Study.. Diabetes Care. PMID 36350789 · doi:10.2337/dc22-0627 - ICMR-INDIAB national data, optimization model
- Diabetes UK (2021). Position statement: Low-carb diets for people with diabetes. Diabetes UK. Link - Professional position statement
- Snorgaard O, Poulsen GM, Andersen HK, et al. (2017). Systematic review and meta-analysis of dietary carbohydrate restriction in patients with type 2 diabetes.. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 5(1):e000354. PMID 28316796 · doi:10.1136/bmjdrc-2016-000354 - Meta-analysis, 10 RCTs, 1,376 people
- Westman EC, Yancy WS Jr, Mavropoulos JC, et al. (2008). The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus.. Nutr Metab (Lond) 5:36. PMID 19099589 · doi:10.1186/1743-7075-5-36 - RCT, 24 weeks
- Hallberg SJ, McKenzie AL, Williams PT, et al. (2018). Effectiveness and Safety of a Novel Care Model for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes at 1 Year: An Open-Label, Non-Randomized, Controlled Study.. Diabetes Ther 9(2):583-612. PMID 29417495 · doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0373-9 - Non-randomized, 1 year; funded by Virta Health, authors include Virta founders and staff
- McKenzie AL, Athinarayanan SJ, Van Tieghem MR, et al. (2024). 5-Year effects of a novel continuous remote care model with carbohydrate-restricted nutrition therapy including nutritional ketosis in type 2 diabetes: An extension study.. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 217:111898. PMID 39433217 · doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2024.111898 - 5-year completer analysis, large attrition; industry-run
- Unwin D, Delon C, Unwin J, et al. (2023). What predicts drug-free type 2 diabetes remission? Insights from an 8-year general practice service evaluation of a lower carbohydrate diet with weight loss.. BMJ Nutr Prev Health 6(1):46-55. PMID 37559961 · doi:10.1136/bmjnph-2022-000544 - Service evaluation in one UK practice, self-selected, non-randomized
- Lean ME, Leslie WS, Barnes AC, et al. (2024). 5-year follow-up of the randomised Diabetes Remission Clinical Trial (DiRECT) of continued support for weight loss maintenance in the UK: an extension study.. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 12(4):233-246. PMID 38423026 · doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00385-6 - DiRECT 5-year extension
- Evert AB, Dennison M, Gardner CD, et al. (2019). Nutrition Therapy for Adults With Diabetes or Prediabetes: A Consensus Report.. Diabetes Care 42(5):731-754. PMID 31000505 · doi:10.2337/dci19-0014 - ADA nutrition therapy consensus report; quoted statements are in the full text (Eating Patterns section)
- Ludwig DS, Aronne LJ, Astrup A, et al. (2021). The carbohydrate-insulin model: a physiological perspective on the obesity pandemic.. Am J Clin Nutr 114(6):1873-1885. PMID 34515299 · doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqab270 - Perspective
- Ebbeling CB, Feldman HA, Klein GL, et al. (2018). Effects of a low carbohydrate diet on energy expenditure during weight loss maintenance: randomized trial.. BMJ:k4583. PMID 30429127 · doi:10.1136/bmj.k4583 - Feeding RCT during weight maintenance; energy expenditure measure disputed
- Hall KD, Guo J, Courville AB, et al. (2021). Effect of a plant-based, low-fat diet versus an animal-based, ketogenic diet on ad libitum energy intake.. Nat Med 27(2):344-353. PMID 33479499 · doi:10.1038/s41591-020-01209-1 - Inpatient crossover, n=20, 2 weeks each
- Mansoor N, Vinknes KJ, Veierød MB, et al. (2016). Effects of low-carbohydrate diets v. low-fat diets on body weight and cardiovascular risk factors: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.. Br J Nutr 115(3):466-479. PMID 26768850 · doi:10.1017/S0007114515004699 - Meta-analysis of RCTs, low-carb vs low-fat
- Norwitz NG, Feldman D, Soto-Mota A, et al. (2022). Elevated LDL Cholesterol with a Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet: Evidence for a “Lean Mass Hyper-Responder” Phenotype.. Curr Dev Nutr 6(1):nzab144. PMID 35106434 · doi:10.1093/cdn/nzab144 - Self-selected survey of low-carb followers
- Budoff M, Manubolu VS, Kinninger A, et al. (2024). Carbohydrate Restriction-Induced Elevations in LDL-Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis: The KETO Trial.. JACC Adv 3(8):101109. PMID 39372369 · doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2024.101109 - Cross-sectional, self-selected, external comparison cohort
- Soto-Mota A, Norwitz NG, Manubolu VS, et al. (2026). RETRACTION NOTICE for: Longitudinal Data from the KETO-CTA Study: Plaque Predicts Plaque, ApoB Does Not (JACC Adv 2025;4(7):101686). JACC Adv 5(5):102824. PMID 42206798 · doi:10.1016/j.jacadv.2026.102824 - Retraction notice for the 2025 longitudinal KETO-CTA paper
- Kanaya AM, Herrington D, Vittinghoff E, et al. (2014). Understanding the high prevalence of diabetes in U.S. south Asians compared with four racial/ethnic groups: the MASALA and MESA studies.. Diabetes Care 37(6):1621-1628. PMID 24705613 · doi:10.2337/dc13-2656 - MASALA vs MESA cohorts
- Caleyachetty R, Barber TM, Mohammed NI, et al. (2021). Ethnicity-specific BMI cutoffs for obesity based on type 2 diabetes risk in England: a population-based cohort study.. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 9(7):419-426. PMID 33989535 · doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(21)00088-7 - Cohort, England
- Hooper L, Martin N, Jimoh OF, et al. (2020). Reduction in saturated fat intake for cardiovascular disease.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 8(8):CD011737. PMID 32827219 · doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011737.pub3 - Cochrane review (August 2020 corrected version)
- Sacks FM, Lichtenstein AH, Wu JHY, et al. (2017). Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association.. Circulation 136(3):e1-e23. PMID 28620111 · doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000510 - AHA presidential advisory
- Li Y, Hruby A, Bernstein AM, et al. (2015). Saturated Fats Compared With Unsaturated Fats and Sources of Carbohydrates in Relation to Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.. J Am Coll Cardiol 66(14):1538-1548. PMID 26429077 · doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2015.07.055 - Cohorts, NHS and HPFS
- Astrup A, Magkos F, Bier DM, et al. (2020). Saturated Fats and Health: A Reassessment and Proposal for Food-Based Recommendations: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.. J Am Coll Cardiol 76(7):844-857. PMID 32562735 · doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2020.05.077 - State-of-the-art review (counterpoint)
- Wang DD, Li Y, Chiuve SE, et al. (2016). Association of Specific Dietary Fats With Total and Cause-Specific Mortality.. JAMA Intern Med 176(8):1134-1145. PMID 27379574 · doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.2417 - Cohorts, NHS and HPFS
- Neelakantan N, Seah JYH, van Dam RM (2020). The Effect of Coconut Oil Consumption on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials.. Circulation 141(10):803-814. PMID 31928080 · doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.119.043052 - Meta-analysis of 16 RCTs
- Vijayakumar M, Vasudevan DM, Sundaram KR, et al. (2016). A randomized study of coconut oil versus sunflower oil on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with stable coronary heart disease.. Indian Heart J 68(4):498-506. PMID 27543472 · doi:10.1016/j.ihj.2015.10.384 - RCT, Kerala, n=200, 2 years; underpowered for heart events
- Shankar SR, Bijlani RL, Baveja T, et al. (2002). Effect of partial replacement of visible fat by ghee (clarified butter) on serum lipid profile.. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol 46(3):355-360. PMID 12613401 - RCT, n=24, 8 weeks
- Sankar D, Rao MR, Sambandam G, et al. (2006). A pilot study of open label sesame oil in hypertensive diabetics.. J Med Food 9(3):408-412. PMID 17004907 · doi:10.1089/jmf.2006.9.408 - Open-label pilot, n=40
- Farvid MS, Ding M, Pan A, et al. (2014). Dietary linoleic acid and risk of coronary heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.. Circulation 130(18):1568-1578. PMID 25161045 · doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.114.010236 - Meta-analysis of cohorts
- Ramsden CE, Zamora D, Majchrzak-Hong S, et al. (2016). Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73).. BMJ 353:i1246. PMID 27071971 · doi:10.1136/bmj.i1246 - Re-analysis of recovered 1968-73 trial data
- Malik VS, Popkin BM, Bray GA, et al. (2010). Sugar-sweetened beverages and risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis.. Diabetes Care 33(11):2477-2483. PMID 20693348 · doi:10.2337/dc10-1079 - Meta-analysis of cohorts, 310,819 people
- Lane MM, Gamage E, Du S, et al. (2024). Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses.. BMJ 384:e077310. PMID 38418082 · doi:10.1136/bmj-2023-077310 - Umbrella review, mostly observational
- Bueno NB, Dos Santos Silva MM, de Melo ISV (2020). Low-carbohydrate diets and intrahepatic lipid content in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Evidence from a meta-analysis of randomized trials.. Clin Nutr 39(1):310-311. PMID 31791671 · doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2019.11.026 - Short research letter reporting a meta-analysis of RCTs
- Otten J, Mellberg C, Ryberg M, et al. (2016). Strong and persistent effect on liver fat with a Paleolithic diet during a two-year intervention.. Int J Obes (Lond) 40(5):747-753. PMID 26786351 · doi:10.1038/ijo.2016.4 - 2-year RCT liver fat substudy
- Amini MR, Askarpour M, Ghalandari H, et al. (2024). Effect of ketogenic diet on blood pressure: A GRADE-Assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 34(4):823-837. PMID 38310076 · doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2023.12.004 - Meta-analysis, 23 RCTs
- Martin-McGill KJ, Bresnahan R, Levy RG, et al. (2020). Ketogenic diets for drug-resistant epilepsy.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 6(6):CD001903. PMID 32588435 · doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001903.pub5 - Cochrane review
- Eshaghhosseiny N, Ahmadi M, Izadi B, et al. (2024). The effects of ketogenic diet on metabolic and hormonal parameters in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.. J Diabetes Metab Disord 23(2):1573-1587. PMID 39610476 · doi:10.1007/s40200-024-01441-3 - Meta-analysis of 10 small studies
- Di Lorenzo C, Pinto A, Ienca R, et al. (2019). A Randomized Double-Blind, Cross-Over Trial of very Low-Calorie Diet in Overweight Migraine Patients: A Possible Role for Ketones?. Nutrients 11(8):1742. PMID 31357685 · doi:10.3390/nu11081742 - Double-blind crossover RCT
- Gu C, Olszewski T, King KL, et al. (2022). The Effects of Modifying Amount and Type of Dietary Carbohydrate on Esophageal Acid Exposure Time and Esophageal Reflux Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial.. Am J Gastroenterol 117(10):1655-1667. PMID 35973185 · doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001889 - RCT, n=98
- Sethi S, Wakeham D, Ketter T, et al. (2024). Ketogenic Diet Intervention on Metabolic and Psychiatric Health in Bipolar and Schizophrenia: A Pilot Trial.. Psychiatry Res 335:115866. PMID 38547601 · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115866 - Uncontrolled pilot
- Iacovides S, Maloney SK, Bhana S, et al. (2022). Could the ketogenic diet induce a shift in thyroid function and support a metabolic advantage in healthy participants? A pilot randomized-controlled-crossover trial.. PLoS One 17(6):e0269440. PMID 35658056 · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0269440 - Randomized crossover, n=11, 3 weeks
- Bao W, Bowers K, Tobias DK, et al. (2014). Prepregnancy low-carbohydrate dietary pattern and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study.. Am J Clin Nutr 99(6):1378-1384. PMID 24717341 · doi:10.3945/ajcn.113.082966 - Prospective cohort, Nurses' Health Study II
- Seidelmann SB, Claggett B, Cheng S, et al. (2018). Dietary carbohydrate intake and mortality: a prospective cohort study and meta-analysis.. Lancet Public Health 3(9):e419-e428. PMID 30122560 · doi:10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30135-X - ARIC cohort plus meta-analysis
- Dehghan M, Mente A, Zhang X, et al. (2017). Associations of fats and carbohydrate intake with cardiovascular disease and mortality in 18 countries from five continents (PURE): a prospective cohort study.. Lancet 390(10107):2050-2062. PMID 28864332 · doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32252-3 - PURE cohort, 18 countries
- Shan Z, Guo Y, Hu FB, et al. (2020). Association of Low-Carbohydrate and Low-Fat Diets With Mortality Among US Adults.. JAMA Intern Med 180(4):513-523. PMID 31961383 · doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.6980 - Cohort, NHANES
- Anjana RM, Sudha V, Abirami K, et al. (2025). Dietary profiles and associated metabolic risk factors in India from the ICMR-INDIAB survey-21.. Nat Med 31(11):3813-3824. PMID 41028544 · doi:10.1038/s41591-025-03949-4 - ICMR-INDIAB, 18,090 adults, cross-sectional modelling
- Devries MC, Sithamparapillai A, Brimble KS, et al. (2018). Changes in Kidney Function Do Not Differ between Healthy Adults Consuming Higher- Compared with Lower- or Normal-Protein Diets: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.. J Nutr 148(11):1760-1775. PMID 30383278 · doi:10.1093/jn/nxy197 - Meta-analysis
- Shilpa J, Mohan V (2018). Ketogenic diets: Boon or bane?. Indian J Med Res 148(3):251-253. PMID 30425213 · doi:10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1666_18 - Editorial by Madras Diabetes Research Foundation authors
- Misra A, Sharma R, Gulati S, et al. (2011). Consensus dietary guidelines for healthy living and prevention of obesity, the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and related disorders in Asian Indians.. Diabetes Technol Ther 13(6):683-694. PMID 21488798 · doi:10.1089/dia.2010.0198 - Consensus dietary guidelines for Asian Indians