Genetics may influence LDL cholesterol response to low-carb diets

Preliminary research suggests that an individual's genetic makeup may determine whether a low-carbohydrate diet causes a sharp rise in LDL cholesterol. The findings, presented by Alexa Barad, PhD, RDN, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University School of Medicine, at the American Society for Nutrition's NUTRITION 2026 meeting, aim to explain why dietary responses vary so significantly between individuals.

The analysis indicates that saturated fat, which often constitutes a larger portion of low-carb diets, may interact with a person's genetic background to drive higher cholesterol levels. This could explain why some people experience substantial increases in LDL cholesterol while others see little to no change despite following similar dietary patterns.

The study utilized data from the DIETFITS randomized controlled trial to explore these genetic influences. The research suggests that dietary outcomes are not uniform and that genetic sensitivity to saturated fat plays a critical role in how low-carb diets affect heart disease risk factors.