Low-carb diet cut fat between muscles in older adults with obesity

Adults aged 60 or older with obesity took part in an eight-week randomised trial comparing diets designed to maintain weight. This secondary analysis compared a very low-carbohydrate diet, providing less than 10% of energy from carbohydrates, with a low-fat diet providing 55% from carbohydrates. Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to measure thigh muscle and fat between muscles. They also tested strength and physical function.

The very low-carbohydrate group had a greater reduction in fat between muscles. Across all participants, larger reductions were associated with greater improvements in hand grip strength, strength used to straighten the knee and performance on a reaching test. These associations remained after researchers accounted for changes in thigh muscle volume and body weight.