Abstract
The paleo diet is popular among the general population due to promoted weight loss and disease prevention benefits. We examined the effectiveness of a self-administered paleo diet in improving cardiometabolic disease risk factors. Overweight, physically inactive but otherwise healthy adults (males = 4, females = 3, age 32.7 ± 4.9 years, body mass index [BMI] 29.4 ± 2.4 kg/m2) habitually eating a traditional Western diet (1853.4 ± 441.2 kcal; 34.0% carbohydrate; 41.4% fat; 19.2% protein) completed an ad libitum self-administered paleo diet for 8 weeks. Height, weight, blood pressure, and a fasting blood sample were collected pre– and post–paleo dietary intervention. Blood samples were analyzed for fasting cardiometabolic disease biomarkers—including brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 21, and leptin. After 8 weeks, body mass (−5.3 kg, P =.008), BMI (−1.7 kg/m2, P =.002), serum leptin (−56.2%, P =.012), serum FGF21 (−26.7%, P =.002), and serum BDNF (−25.8%, P =.045) significantly decreased. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were unchanged following the paleo dietary intervention (P >.05). Average energy intake (−412.6 kcal, P =.016) significantly decreased with the paleo dietary intervention mostly due to a reduction in carbohydrate consumption (−69.2 g; P =.003). An 8-week self-administered paleo dietary intervention was effective in improving cardiometabolic disease risk factors in a healthy, physically inactive overweight adult population.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 690-700 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine |
Volume | 15 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2021 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- dietary intervention
- inflammation
- metabolic syndrome
- young adults
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Health Policy
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
MD Anderson CCSG core facilities
- Biostatistics Resource Group