Scientists working within Aberdeen’s Rowett Research Institute just recently conducted a new study which has displayed that a low carbohydrate, high protein eating regimen promotes weight loss by effectively reducing hunger.

Rowett’s specialised Human Nutrition Unit gave healthy, but overweight men two different eating plans during their visit. Each diet had high levels of protein (roughly 30-35% of the total energy for the eating plan). However, the amount of carbohydrates in each diet differed: One regimen featured a moderate level of carbohydrate (about 35%) while the other diet limited participants to a low carbohydrate intake (approximately 4%).

Both diets were equally appetizing to the study's participants, but the low-carbohydrate, high protein diet produced a fuller feeling and reduced hunger compared with the high-protein, moderate carbohydrate diet. During the study periods, in addition to more dietary satisfaction, volunteers on the high-protein, low-carbohydrate also experienced greater weight loss, averaging around 6 kg per person versus 4 kg on the diet featuring a moderate carbohydrate intake.

Science has found that when individuals follow low carbohydrate diet, their bodies must alter the product it uses as fuel from glucose to objects named ketone bodies. these are known to be an appetite suppressant and are know to have an effect on portions of the brain that control appetite. In addition to the filling sensation of ketone bodies, protein is well known for producing feels of fullness.

According to the study, within 1-2 days of starting the low carbohydrate, high-protein diet, participants became ketogenic. The combined appetite suppressing effect of the protein and the ketone bodies may be why low-carbohydrate, high protein diets are particularly effective for weight loss. An important factor of volunteers' ability to maintain the diet was the capacity to reduce the total energy intake without an increase to their hunger and the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet allowed such a process.

While the kentogenic diet has excellent benefits, researcher Dr. Johnstone also notes that low carbohydrate eating plan may have some negative consequences. Low Carbohydrate regimens tend to drastically reduce the quantity of certain bacteria types, possibly causing problems with gastrointestinal health. More studies will need to be conducted, which consider the complex ways our bodies deal with changes to our dietary intake, before health professionals can definitively declare the low-carbohydrate diet is an appropriate device for individuals seeking to lose weight.

The study drew a substantial amount of attention at the conclusion of the volunteer phase due to a variety of celebrity idols involved. One such participant was reported to have lost over 11 kg in nine weeks during the Rowett Institute study. During that period, multiple volunteers expressed surprise at their lack of feeling hungry while they were completing the study and explained they had become accustomed to a diet that consisted of smaller portions.

The weight-loss study is published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, volume 87(1), pages 44-55.

The study which investigated the impact of the low carbohydrate, high-protein diet on the bacteria in the gut was published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 73:1073-8.