Conclusion: Dukan diet was more effective than traditional diet for weight loss and laboratory parameters and without changes in endothelial function, in the 12-months follow-up of obese subjects. Two groups were constituted: Traditional low-calorie diet: n=17, 14 females and 3 males, 45±11 years old, 90±11 Kg body weight and body mass index 34±2Kg/m2; High protein/Low carbohydrate diet-Dukan Diet: n=17, 10 females and 7 males, 38±11 years old, 95±9 Kg of body weight and BMI 34±2 Kg/m2.

The ketogenic diet, or keto diet, emerged in popularity after a recent series of other low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Paleo and Atkins diets. The ketogenic diet is unique from other low-carbohydrate diets in that followers of the diet are encouraged to forgo nearly all carbohydrates, avoid excess protein, and consume high levels of fat, resulting in the production of ketones, giving the diet its name.

The liver makes ketone bodies naturally from fatty acids released largely from stored body fat. The review of Veech highlights the bioenergetics of ketone metabolism and how this is linked to the role of ketone bodies as transcriptional regulators.

Holotranscobalamin may be a more sensitive indicator of depletion than serum vitamin B-12 in some conditions, but the usual cutoff of 30 pmol/L often estimates a similar population prevalence of deficiency as serum vitamin B-12. Vitamin B-12 deficiency in the elderly is more common and usually diagnosed from low serum vitamin B-12 concentrations or, less often, from signs of neuropathy or megaloblastic anemia.

Ketogenic diets, such as the Very-Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet and the Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet, have been studied for their effectiveness in managing obesity. Both diets are characterized by low carbohydrate content, moderate protein intake, and restricted lipid intake. A narrative review of impactful studies was conducted to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of these diets on weight loss, metabolic and cardiovascular aspects. The studies analyzed included cohort studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses. Results showed that both diets were effective in reducing weight and improving glucose and cholesterol levels in the short and long term. Further research through randomized controlled trials is needed to gather more data. The adoption of these diets can be helpful in ameliorating metabolic and cardiovascular risks.

Obesity is a serious health concern that leads to several cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Genetic predisposition, inactive lifestyles, and high caloric intake are some key factors behind excessive weight gain. Despite the recommendations of healthcare organizations, the goal of weight control fails due to several reasons. Nutritional intervention studies have been focused on reducing dietary fat, but with little positive results over the long-term. The ketogenic diet has emerged as one of the most studied strategies for weight loss. Several studies have shown that a ketogenic diet has a solid physiological and biochemical basis to induce effective weight loss with improvements in several cardiovascular risk parameters. However, the ideal type and amount of exercise and diet are still under debate. This review discusses the rationale behind ketogenic diets, their strengths and weaknesses, and the need for caution while treating obese patients.

A new meta-analysis has found that low-carbohydrate diets may lead to increased inflammation and a higher risk of heart disease. The report reviews the results of six clinical trials, including 210 subjects, and found that while low-carbohydrate diets were more effective at reducing body weight, diastolic blood pressure and triglyceride levels, they were also shown to decrease vascular health. Specifically, they led to a 20% reduction in flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), a measure of the arteries' ability to contract and expand, compared to those on low-fat diets. Endothelial function is considered one of the earliest indicators of CVD risk. Low-carbohydrate diets, including ketogenic diets, have gained popularity in recent years as a way to lose weight rapidly. However, the new findings highlight the risk of inflammation, which can have a negative effect on long-term heart health. The report concludes that more research is needed into the impact of low-carbohydrate diets on specific markers of cardiovascular health.

A review of recent studies has highlighted the potential benefits of the ketogenic diet (KD) for nonneurological conditions such as weight loss, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular health. The review analyzed meta-analyses, with 75% of the studies coming from 2012 to 2022, along with relevant single studies from the past decade lasting longer than 12 months to assess long-term benefits. Results suggest that a very low-calorie KD can be an effective method for long-term weight loss, as well as improve the health of obese individuals. The KD can also help lower glycated hemoglobin and hypoglycemic drug doses in individuals with type 2 diabetes, and long-term studies indicate potential cardiovascular benefits such as improving lipid profile, adiponectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1. However, the review suggests that this diet's benefits should be verified by patients' physical activity levels, and further research is needed to fully understand the diet's potential health benefits.