Strictly limiting the intake of carbohydrates and fats may shorten lifespan

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Strictly limiting the intake of carbohydrates and fats may shorten lifespan

A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition suggests that extreme dietary patterns related to fats and carbohydrates could impact one’s lifespan.

Conducted under the leadership of Dr. Takashi Tamura from the Graduate School of Medicine at Nagoya University in Japan, this research reveals that men with low carbohydrate intake and women with high carbohydrate intake face an increased risk of overall mortality and cancer-related deaths.

Additionally, the study suggests that women with higher fat intake may have a reduced risk of death from any cause.

Strictly limiting the intake of carbohydrates and fats may shorten lifespan

The findings underscore the importance of pursuing a balanced diet rather than heavily restricting carbohydrates or fats.

While low-carb and low-fat diets have gained popularity as methods for weight loss and improving blood sugar levels, their long-term effects on life expectancy have remained unclear. Interestingly, recent research conducted in Western countries has linked extreme carbohydrate and fat dietary habits with higher mortality risks. However, there has been limited exploration of these associations among East Asian populations, including the typically lower fat and carbohydrate intake in Japan.

The authors tracked 81,333 Japanese individuals (34,893 men and 46,440 women) over a 9-year period to assess the relationship between carbohydrate and fat intake and the risk of death. Daily dietary intake of carbohydrates, fats, and total energy was estimated using food frequency questionnaires, and the percentages of carbohydrate and fat intake in relation to total energy intake were calculated.

Furthermore, the researchers evaluated the quality of carbohydrate intake (comparing refined carbohydrates to minimally processed carbohydrates) and the quality of fat intake (comparing saturated fat to unsaturated fat) to study the impact of food quality on mortality rates.

They found that men with carbohydrate intake below 40% of total energy had a significantly higher risk of overall mortality and cancer-related mortality. This trend was observed for both refined and minimally processed carbohydrates. On the other hand, women who consumed over 65% of their energy from carbohydrates had a higher risk of overall mortality after a follow-up of 5 years or longer. There was no significant association between the intake of refined or minimally processed carbohydrates and women’s mortality risk.

Regarding fat intake, men who consumed fats exceeding 35% of their total energy had a higher risk of cancer-related deaths. The study also revealed that lower intake of unsaturated fats in men was associated with a higher risk of overall mortality and cancer-related mortality. In contrast, there was an inverse relationship between total fat intake and saturated fat intake in women and their risk of overall mortality and cancer-related mortality. The researchers concluded that this finding does not support the idea that high fat intake is detrimental to women’s longevity.

Dr. Tamura remarked, “The inverse relationship of saturated fat intake with female mortality risk may partially explain the gender differences observed. Additionally, components other than fat in the sources of dietary fat may be contributing factors to the observed inverse relationship between fat intake and mortality in women.”

This research is highly significant because limiting carbohydrates and fats, such as with extremely low-carb or low-fat diets, is currently a popular dietary strategy aimed at improving health, including managing metabolic syndrome. However, this study suggests that low-carb and low-fat diets may not be the healthiest strategy for promoting longevity, as their short-term benefits may be offset by long-term risks.

In summary, there is an adverse association between low carbohydrate intake in men and high carbohydrate intake in women with mortality rates, while high fat intake in women may be associated with lower mortality risk. The study’s results suggest that individuals should carefully consider how to balance their diet, ensuring they obtain energy from a variety of foods while avoiding extreme dietary patterns.