Changes in plasma fatty acid composition in females with lipedema following low-carbohydrate vs low-fat diets and associations with pain reduction
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lipedema is a chronic female disease characterized by a painful accumulation of adipose tissue in the limbs. Plasma fatty acid (FA) composition has been proposed as a potential modulator of pain. However, the pathophysiology behind lipedema pain remains uncertain. The primary objective of this secondary analysis was to compare changes in plasma concentrations of FAs between low-energy diets either low in carbohydrates or low in fat, in females with lipedema and obesity. A secondary objective was to investigate potential associations between changes in pain and changes in the concentration of several FAs. METHODS: Females with lipedema and obesity (BMI 30–45 kg/m2) were randomized to isocaloric low-energy diets, either low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) or low-fat diet for 8 weeks. Plasma concentrations of FAs were quantified using gas chromatography and subjective pain using the Brief Pain Inventory, before and after the intervention. RESULTS: 70 females were included in the analyses, with a mean BMI of 37 ± 5 kg/m2 and mean age of 47 ± 11 years. Significant decreases in the concentration of the saturated FAs (SFAs) myristic, stearic, and behenic acids, and the polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA) gamma-linolenic (GLA), dihomo-gamma-linolenic (DGLA), alpha-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA), and docosapentaenoic acids (DPA) were seen in both groups. A reduction in the SFA arachidic acid, and the monounsaturated FAs (MUFA) palmitoleic and oleic acids was seen in the LCD group…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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