Changes in Cytokines and Fibrotic Growth Factors after Low-Carbohydrate or Low-Fat Low-Energy Diets in Females with Lipedema

Background: Lipedema is considered an inflammation-related disease, and low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets may help reduce inflammation. However, no randomized controlled trials have investigated the effect of a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet on inflammatory markers in females with lipedema. Objectiv...

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Main Authors: Julianne Lundanes, Vilde Fiske Nes, Oda Aakervik, Liv Ryan, Patrik Hansson, Anne Mari Rokstad, Catia Martins, Siren Nymo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Current Developments in Nutrition
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299125000307
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author Julianne Lundanes
Vilde Fiske Nes
Oda Aakervik
Liv Ryan
Patrik Hansson
Anne Mari Rokstad
Catia Martins
Siren Nymo
author_facet Julianne Lundanes
Vilde Fiske Nes
Oda Aakervik
Liv Ryan
Patrik Hansson
Anne Mari Rokstad
Catia Martins
Siren Nymo
author_sort Julianne Lundanes
collection DOAJ
description Background: Lipedema is considered an inflammation-related disease, and low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets may help reduce inflammation. However, no randomized controlled trials have investigated the effect of a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet on inflammatory markers in females with lipedema. Objectives: To compare changes in inflammatory and fibrosis-associated markers after a low-energy low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) compared with a low-fat diet in females with lipedema, and to explore potential associations between changes in pain and changes in inflammatory and fibrosis-associated markers. Methods: Females with lipedema and obesity were randomly assigned to either an LCD or low-fat diet (both 1200 kcal/d) for 8 weeks. Body composition [fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass] and the plasma concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), cytokines, and fibrosis-associated markers were measured pre- and postintervention. Results: A total of 70 females were included (35/group) (mean age: 47.3 ± 10.9 y, BMI: 36.9 ± 4.9 kg/m2). Both groups lost weight and FM (kg and %), with a greater reduction in the LCD group. A reduction in macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α, and hsCRP was seen in the LCD group only, despite no significant differences between groups. No associations were found between changes in pain and changes in cytokines and fibrosis-associated markers. Conclusions: Changes in cytokines and fibrosis-associated markers did not differ between low-energy LCD and low-fat diets in females with lipedema, despite a beneficial profile in the LCD group. Inflammation does not seem to be involved in pain reduction following LCD in this patient group. Trial registration number: This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04632810.
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spelling doaj-art-5d58b5a9e235464bb3c5f3c0f58c299c2025-08-20T03:44:28ZengElsevierCurrent Developments in Nutrition2475-29912025-03-019310457110.1016/j.cdnut.2025.104571Changes in Cytokines and Fibrotic Growth Factors after Low-Carbohydrate or Low-Fat Low-Energy Diets in Females with LipedemaJulianne Lundanes0Vilde Fiske Nes1Oda Aakervik2Liv Ryan3Patrik Hansson4Anne Mari Rokstad5Catia Martins6Siren Nymo7Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Clinic of Surgery, Namsos Hospital, Namsos, Norway; Corresponding author.Clinical Nutrition Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayNord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Clinic of Surgery, Namsos Hospital, Namsos, Norway; Centre for Nutrition, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayClinical Nutrition Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Food and Nutrition and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, SwedenDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, NorwayDepartment of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United StatesNord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Clinic of Surgery, Namsos Hospital, Namsos, Norway; Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Centre for Obesity and Innovation, Clinic of Surgery, St. Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, NorwayBackground: Lipedema is considered an inflammation-related disease, and low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets may help reduce inflammation. However, no randomized controlled trials have investigated the effect of a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet on inflammatory markers in females with lipedema. Objectives: To compare changes in inflammatory and fibrosis-associated markers after a low-energy low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) compared with a low-fat diet in females with lipedema, and to explore potential associations between changes in pain and changes in inflammatory and fibrosis-associated markers. Methods: Females with lipedema and obesity were randomly assigned to either an LCD or low-fat diet (both 1200 kcal/d) for 8 weeks. Body composition [fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass] and the plasma concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), cytokines, and fibrosis-associated markers were measured pre- and postintervention. Results: A total of 70 females were included (35/group) (mean age: 47.3 ± 10.9 y, BMI: 36.9 ± 4.9 kg/m2). Both groups lost weight and FM (kg and %), with a greater reduction in the LCD group. A reduction in macrophage inflammatory protein-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α, and hsCRP was seen in the LCD group only, despite no significant differences between groups. No associations were found between changes in pain and changes in cytokines and fibrosis-associated markers. Conclusions: Changes in cytokines and fibrosis-associated markers did not differ between low-energy LCD and low-fat diets in females with lipedema, despite a beneficial profile in the LCD group. Inflammation does not seem to be involved in pain reduction following LCD in this patient group. Trial registration number: This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04632810.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299125000307inflammationCRPTNFweight lossketogenic diet
spellingShingle Julianne Lundanes
Vilde Fiske Nes
Oda Aakervik
Liv Ryan
Patrik Hansson
Anne Mari Rokstad
Catia Martins
Siren Nymo
Changes in Cytokines and Fibrotic Growth Factors after Low-Carbohydrate or Low-Fat Low-Energy Diets in Females with Lipedema
Current Developments in Nutrition
inflammation
CRP
TNF
weight loss
ketogenic diet
title Changes in Cytokines and Fibrotic Growth Factors after Low-Carbohydrate or Low-Fat Low-Energy Diets in Females with Lipedema
title_full Changes in Cytokines and Fibrotic Growth Factors after Low-Carbohydrate or Low-Fat Low-Energy Diets in Females with Lipedema
title_fullStr Changes in Cytokines and Fibrotic Growth Factors after Low-Carbohydrate or Low-Fat Low-Energy Diets in Females with Lipedema
title_full_unstemmed Changes in Cytokines and Fibrotic Growth Factors after Low-Carbohydrate or Low-Fat Low-Energy Diets in Females with Lipedema
title_short Changes in Cytokines and Fibrotic Growth Factors after Low-Carbohydrate or Low-Fat Low-Energy Diets in Females with Lipedema
title_sort changes in cytokines and fibrotic growth factors after low carbohydrate or low fat low energy diets in females with lipedema
topic inflammation
CRP
TNF
weight loss
ketogenic diet
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299125000307
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