As we approach the end of the year, it seems to be that time again when studies come out trying to tear down specific diets. The most recent claims are that a low-carb diet can lead to insulin resistance and glucose dysregulation. What’s fascinating is that it’s not just social media spreading sensationalized headlines these days—even studies are becoming more sensationalized and tribalistic.
The study in question aimed to investigate whether a low-carb diet would positively or negatively impact normal-weight individuals. The researchers asked 120 people to log and weigh their food for seven days. This observational study places great trust in people’s ability to accurately track and report what they eat. In reality, most people can’t balance a checkbook, let alone record their daily food intake for a week. However, the study’s method raises serious concerns.
After seven days, they monitored participants’ blood glucose, inflammation, and insulin resistance. The researchers divided the participants into three groups based on how much carbohydrate they consumed. The low-carb group ate less than 45% of their calories from carbohydrates, the moderate group ate between 45-65%, and the high-carb group ate over 65%.
The findings of the study appear damning at first glance. Those on a low-carb diet reportedly developed dysregulated glucose, beta cell function, increased c-peptide, and inflammation. High-carb diets, on the other hand, were deemed better. However, a closer inspection of the study reveals several significant problems.
Firstly, the blood work carried out after the seven days were not compared to earlier bloodwork. This omission means the study fails to account for an individual’s dietary history. For instance, a person who ate healthily for just one week before the blood test would appear essentially healthy, even if their diet in previous years consisted of sugar-laden junk food.
Moreover, the carb-intake classification is problematic too. 45% carbohydrates aren’t especially low at all. Many fit, healthy people eat no more than 45% of their calories in carbohydrates. For instance, professional CrossFitters who consider themselves moderate to high-carb athletes typically eat 40-45% carbohydrates. If people eat high-quality, low-glycemic foods, they won’t have dysregulated glucose or beta cell function.
While the researchers used an accelerometer to track the participants, this tool is 80-90% accurate at best, leaving a significant gap for error. Additionally, the study failed to adjust for sleep quality, which is known to impact glucose regulation severely. Another confounding factor was the lack of physical activity.
Finally, the study only tracked participants for seven days. This limited scope means that the nutritional data collected does not fully represent the individual’s diet. Recording food intake for a week doesn’t give any indication of what someone ate previously or will eat in the future. As observations exist in a vacuum, participants could easily have modified their diet for the study’s duration and returned to their original eating habits afterward.
In conclusion, sensationalized studies like this are not only frustrating but can be dangerous too. As with many fad diets, low-carb diets have good and bad sides. But we must rely on accurate studies to make informed decisions about our eating. At present, the study in question was experimental, and confounding factors made it hard to draw unequivocal conclusions. While reports like these can be thought-provoking and get us all talking, they must be taken with a sizable grain of salt.
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Summary of Transcript:
In this YouTube video, the host discusses a recent study claiming that a low-carb diet can cause insulin resistance and glucose dysregulation in ordinary-weight people. The study had participants log and weighed their food intake for a week, divided them into three groups based on their carbohydrate consumption, and monitored their bloodwork for inflammation and insulin resistance markers. The findings showed that the low-carb group had dysregulated glucose and increased inflammation compared to the high-carb group. However, the host points out flaws in the study, such as the self-reported food intake not representing an individual’s entire diet and the definition of “low carb” as less than 45% carbohydrates. Additionally, the study did not account for confounding factors such as sleep. The host argues that studies should avoid sensationalized conclusions and take a nuanced approach to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of various diets.
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Summary of Description:
The video discusses a study suggesting low-carb diets may cause insulin resistance. The study is analyzed, and potential problems with it are discussed. The video also includes a brand partnership and promotions for a macadamia nut company. Subscriptions to the creator’s channels and email newsletter are encouraged.
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Source Description
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A new study found that low-carb diets cause insulin resistance…
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References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10061153/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6740055/
Timestamps ⏱
0:00 – Intro – Low Carb Diets Cause Insulin Resistance?
1:20 – Use Code THOMAS20 for 20% off House of Macadamias!
2:06 – The Study
2:23 – How They Reported Food Intake
3:06 – How Many Carbs Were They Consuming?
3:42 – What the Researchers Analyzed
3:58 – The Findings
4:35 – The Problems with this Study
7:25 – Confounding Factors
