Abstract
Objective: To investigate whether subjects consuming a fat-reduced, high-simple carbohydrate diet (SCHO) are at greater risk of micronutrient inadequacy than subjects consuming a fat-reduced, high-complex carbohydrate (CCHO) or a normal-fat diet (control, CD).
Design: A 6-month randomised controlled dietary intervention trial with a parallel design.
Methods: In total, 46 overweight (BMI: 24.4–36.3 kg/m2) subjects (19 males, 27 females) aged 21–54 y consumed one of three ad libitum diets: SCHO, CCHO, or CD. Nutrient intake was assessed by a 7-day weighed food record.
Results: Self-reported energy intake did not differ between diet groups. The lowest intake of vitamin B12 was found in the SCHO group vs CCHO (P=0.025) and vs. CD (P=0.012). In men, zinc intake was lower on the SCHO diet compared to the CD diet (P=0.018). The recommendations for zinc and vitamin B12 were, however, met by all the diet groups. No other diet differences were observed. Intake of several micronutrients were insufficient in all three diet groups, although in most cases comparable to average Danish intakes.
Conclusion: Zinc intake in men and vitamin B12 intake in the combined gender groups were lower on a fat-reduced, simple carbohydrate-rich diet compared to a habitual, normal-fat diet, but not below recommended levels.
Sponsorship: The EU-FAIR program (PL 95-809), the Sugar Bureau, the European Sugar Industries, the Danish Medical Research Council, and the Danish Research and Development Programme for Food Technology.
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Acknowledgements
We gratefully thank the participants, the project staff of the Department of Human Nutrition, as well as the food sponsors for kindly contributing to the food selection.
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Guarantor: A Raben.
Contributors: All investigators contributed to the concept and planning of the study. THV did the statistical analysis. THV wrote the first draft of the paper. All investigators contributed to subsequent drafts of the paper.
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Appendices
Appendix A
List of food items available from the experimental shop according to diet group is given in Table A1.
Appendix B
An example of a typical day-menu according to diet group is given in Table B1. Meals include food items from the shop supplied by self-selected foods bought in conventional supermarkets. Also listed is the macronutrient composition for each menu corresponding to an energy content of 10 MJ.
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Vasilaras, T., Astrup, A. & Raben, A. Micronutrient intake in overweight subjects is not deficient on an ad libitum fat-reduced, high-simple carbohydrate diet. Eur J Clin Nutr 58, 326–336 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601785
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601785