UK Medicines Information
Dietary carbohydrate intake and mortality: a prospective cohort study and meta-analysis
Information type:
Other primary research
Source:
The Lancet Public Health
Specialities:
Nutritional and metabolic disorders
Summary
This US study (n=15,428) found a U-shaped association between carbohydrate intake (as percentage of energy consumed) and mortality, with minimal risk at 50–55%. The findings of a meta-analysis confirmed the association; however results varied by the source of macronutrients.
UKMi comment
The results of the meta-analysis, which combined data from this study with that from other North American, European, Asian and multinational cohorts, showed that mortality was higher when carbohydrates were exchanged for animal-derived fat or protein (pooled HR 1.18, 1.08-1.29) and mortality decreased when the substitutions were plant-based (0.82, 0.78–0.87). The authors say their findings provide further evidence that animal-based low carbohydrate diets, which are more prevalent in North American and European populations, should be discouraged.
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