Introduction:
The paleolithic diet consists of grass-fed pasture-raised meats, seafood, vegetables, and also includes fruits, seeds, nuts and eggs. This diet has been shown to contribute to weight loss and mimics the diet our hunter-gatherer ancestors may have consumed. Weight loss is achieved through avoiding refined sugars, starches, dairy and legumes while consumption of protein, carbohydrates, and fat is relatively balanced.
Objective:
To study the effect of the paleolithic diet on the cardiovascular risk factor profiles of adults in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
Methods:
35-85 year old non-diabetic adults, with one or more cardiovascular risk factor, were invited to participate. A comprehensive nutritional education program was provided to each participant prior to the 60-day intervention. Baseline weight, blood pressure, fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1c, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, fasting lipid panel and NMR Lipoprofile were assessed through an initial health screen. Each participant maintained daily food logs and met weekly with the multi-disciplinary study team to review their logs. The health screen was repeated after the 60-day intervention and intake logs were evaluated.
Results:
Weight loss averaged 12 lbs (6.7%, p=0.092). VLDL-particle number (VLDL-P, p=0.045), triglycerides (p=0.003), and HDL-particle number (p=0.011) levels significantly decreased. LDL-particle number (LDL-P) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) did not significantly change, nor did fasting glucose or HbA1c. Blood pressure significantly improved (systolic, p<0.0001; diastolic, p=0.0003). Participants in the lowest tertile for weight loss had higher baseline risk factors including BMI, LDL-P, LDL-C, fasting glucose and HbA1c levels, yet lower baseline VLDL-P, triglycerides and blood pressure. Greater weight loss was associated with greater reductions in VLDL-P, triglycerides and lipoprotein insulin resistance index.
Conclusions:
The paleolithic diet promoted cardiovascular risk factor modification through weight loss, improved blood pressure, reduced triglyceride, and reduced lipoprotein markers associated with insulin resistance.
