ECE2014 Symposia Nutrient regulation of metabolism and endocrine systems (3 abstracts)
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Endocrine Research Unit, Munich, Germany.
Low-carbohydrate/high-fat diets (LCHFD) are a popular way of dieting among the general population as several reports in humans indicate that LCHFD induce weight loss in overweight subjects without caloric restriction and may improve glucose metabolism. However, regarding this type of diet there is also much controversy in scientific literature because clinical studies and data from animal experiments suggest severe side effects and thus warrant caution. Furthermore, the mechanism of action for weight loss remains unclear. This presentation will therefore show some of these controversial findings and the theories behind them as well as discuss success or failure of LCHFD in humans and animal models. In addition to the use of LCHFD for weight loss purposes, diets with such a drastic change in macronutrient composition may also be used as a research tool to investigate how nutrients regulate metabolism and endocrine systems. Another focus of this presentation will therefore be the dissection of the mechanisms which allow carbohydrates, fat and protein to exert an impact on physiology. The concept of using unique and precisely defined experimental diets in a rat model, will be introduced to demonstrate how LCHFD with differing amounts of protein and fat affect growth, body composition, ketosis, bone metabolism, glucose metabolism and the GH/IGF-system.