Very-low-calorie diet

Very low calorie diet (VLCD) is a diet with very or extremely low daily food energy consumption. It is defined as a diet of 800 kilocalories (3,300 kJ) per day or less. VLCDs are formulated, nutritionally complete, liquid meals containing 800 kilocalories or less per day. VLCDs also contain the recommended daily requirements for vitamins, minerals, trace elements, fatty acids and protein. Carbohydrate may be entirely absent, or substituted for a portion of the protein; this choice has important metabolic effects.[1] The VLCD products are usually a powder which is mixed with water or another low-food-energy liquid. The VLCD is prescribed on a case to case basis for rapid weight loss (about 1.5 to 2.5 kilograms or 3 to 5 pounds per week) in patients with Body Mass Index of 30 and above. The health care provider can recommend the diet to a patient with BMI between 27 and 30 if the medical complications the patient has due to overweight present serious health risk. [2]

Contents

Health effects

Health benefits

A 1997 study concludes that the short-term use of a VLCD is very effective in rapidly improving glycaemic control and promoting substantial weight loss in obese patients with Type 2 diabetes.[3] Moreover, a VLCD increases insulin sensitivity and reduces the substrate for gluconeogenesis. Thus VLCD treatment may improve glycaemic control more than calorie restriction alone. A VLCD is typically undertaken by an obese patient who wishes to lose a lot of weight quickly, as the risk to health that obesity presents is considered much greater than any risks of the diet itself, so long as it is undertaken with medical supervision.[4]

Adverse effects

Studies have shown that in about one in four individuals following a VLCD for a few months, gallstones develop. However, these gallstones may be small enough to not cause discomfort, and often disappear when a normal eating pattern is resumed.[5][6][7] Gallstone formation is facilitated by the more concentrated bile fluid and reduced flow as a result of a VLCD. Another potential side effect is constipation (depending on the fiber content of the diet).[8][9] Most VLCDs recommend drinking 5 litres of water a day to nullify this effect.[10]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ Howard AN (1981). "The historical development, efficacy and safety of very-low-calorie diets". Int J Obes 5 (3): 195–208. PMID 7024153. 
  2. ^ "Very Low Calorie Diet for Rapid Weight Loss". Calorie Counter. http://www.actabit.com/very-low-calorie-diet. Retrieved 2010-10-19. 
  3. ^ "Very low calorie diet (VLCD): a useful alternative in the treatment of the obese NIDDM patient". Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract. 36 (2): 105–11. May 1997. PMID 9229194. 
  4. ^ Diabetes for Professionals – VLCD in the treatment of obese patients with Type 2 diabetes: does it make sense?
  5. ^ T. Andersen. PubMed – Liver and gallbladder disease before and after very-low-calorie diets. Am. J. Clin. Nutrition, vol. 56, p. 2358 (1992).
  6. ^ Broomfield et al., Effects of ursodeoxycholic acid and aspirin on the formation of lithogenic bile and gallstones during loss of weight. New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 318, p. 1567 (1988).
  7. ^ Liddle et al., Gallstone Formation During Weight-Reduction Dieting. Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 149, p. 1750 (1989).
  8. ^ "Dietary fibre added to very low calorie diet reduces hunger and alleviates constipation". Int J Obes 14 (2): 105–12. February 1990. PMID 2160441. 
  9. ^ "VLCD compliance and lean body mass". Int J Obes 13 Suppl 2: 27–31. 1989. PMID 2559044. 
  10. ^ Nutra-Smart – VLCD's & Meal Replacements - A critical look

External links

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