From: gts (gts_2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Sat May 24 2003 - 11:51:46 MDT
Brian Atkins wrote:
> Anyone bother to look up the second study mentioned near the end of
> the news article? The article claims this other study showed improved
> insulin sensitivity from the low carb diet.
I have not looked at it. However from the data from this study currently
under consideration it appears that both low-carb and low-fat diets improve
insulin sensitivity. Here is the data:
Low-carb Conventional p value
Mo 3 6.7 4.1 0.37
Mo 6 5.8 5.2 0.79
Mo 12 2.9 2.9 0.92
The p value is for the difference between the means. For those here who
might need a refresher in stat, the p value represents the probability that
one would be in error if one concluded that the two samples come from
different populations. In this specific case the p value is the probability
that one would be in error if one concluded that the low-carb diet was
different from the conventional diet. Statisticians generally don't draw any
conclusions unless there is statistical significance, defined as p < .05.
So then from this data there is no reason to conclude that low-carb diets do
any more to improve insulin sensitivity than do conventional diets, though
it does appear that both diets improve insulin sensitivity. This only makes
sense; many studies show that insulin sensitivity is most strongly
correlated with body fat, so any means of losing fat should improve insulin
sensitivity.
The researchers also tested area under the glucose curve and area under the
insulin curve, both of which are measures closely related to measures of
insulin sensitivity. They found no significant differences between the two
diets.
-gts
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