April - June 2014, Volume 10, Issue 2

Zhou J, Xu H

Low Carbohydrate and High Protein Diets and Al-Cause, Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases Mortalities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis from 7 Cohort Studies

Acta Endo (Buc) 2014, 10 (2): 259-266
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2014.259

Background & Aims. Results from observational studies on low carbohydrate and high protein (LCHP) diets on all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality are inconsistent. The objective of the present meta-analysis was to investigate LCHP diets and mortality, and cause-specific mortality. Methods. Medline, EMBASE and web of science database were searched for cohort studies published from January 2000 to April 2013. A database was developed on the basis of 7 cohorts from 6 studies, including 279,332 individuals with an average 13.2 years of follow-up. Results. A significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality was observed among those who adhere to LCHP diets [(HR (95% CI): 1.06 (1.04, 1.09); p = 0.001; I2 = 8.2% (p = 0.336)]. However, there were no significant associations between LCHP diets and mortalities from cancer [(HR (95% CI): 1.02 (0.98, 1.05); p = 0.097; I2 = 59.9% (p = 0.041)] and CVD [(HR (95% CI): 1.01 (0.98, 1.03); p = 0.428; I2 = 24.0% (p = 0.0.254)]. Furthermore, a significantly decreased risk of all-cause mortality among those who adhere to high carbohydrate diets [(HR (95% CI): 0.97 (0.94, 0.98); p <0.001; I2 = 5.7% (p = 0.364)] was observed. Conclusion. Present results support that long-term LCHP diets could cause increased mortality of all-cause, while high carbohydrate diets have a protective effect for all-cause mortality. Our analysis provides health professionals with an incentive to pay attention to the adverse effects of LCHP diets on health.

Keywords: carbohydrate, mortality, cancer, cardiovascular disease, meta-analysis.

Correspondence: Jing Zhou MD, Department of Pharmacy, Central Hospital of Zhumadian, Henan Province, 747 Zhong’hua Road, Zhumadian, 463000, China, E-mail: jingzhou20131111@gmail.com