Diets low in fat and carbohydrates can improve the health of middle-aged and older adults, a new studyTrusted Source is reporting.
Short-term clinical trials have shown the health benefits of low-carbohydrate diets and low-fat diets for weight loss and heart health.
The new study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, examines the effects of those diets on mortality in middle-aged and older adults.
The study looked at 371,159 people, aged 50 to 71 years. Over the study’s 23-year period, 165,698 of those subjects died.
The researchers reported that healthy low-fat diets — characterized by a low intake of saturated fat and high intakes of plant protein and high-quality carbohydrates — was associated with fewer deaths from all causes, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
In contrast, a general low-carb diet and an unhealthy low-carb diet were associated with significantly higher total, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality rates. However, a healthy low-carb diet was associated with slightly lower death rates.