Insulin sensitivity and lipid levels in obese subjects after slimming diets with different complex and simple carbohydrate content

The ideal hypocaloric diet should reduce body weight, decrease fat more than muscle tissue, and ameliorate insulin sensitivity and lipid levels. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of three hypocaloric diets with different carbohydrate (CHO) and fat contents on body weight reduction, insulin release and sensitivity, and lipid levels in patients with simple obesity. Twenty-five obese subjects with normal glucose tolerance were randomly allocated to three hypocaloric (800 kcal) diets containing: 60% high complex/high starch and fibre (HC/ HSF-CHO) and 20% fat (group 1;11 subjects); 60% high simple/high natural fibre (HS/HNF-CHO) and 20% fat (group 2; 7 subjects); or 20% CHO (L-CHO) and 60% fat (group 3; 7 subjects). The remaining 20% of the diet was protein. In all cases the duration of the diet was 21 days. Before and after the diet, seven subjects from each group underwent a hyperglycemic clamp, and the other four subjects of group 1 underwent a euglycemic-hyperinsuline...