Low-carb diets offer extra liver benefits, study finds

A randomized clinical trial conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that low-carbohydrate diets may offer specific health advantages beyond simple weight loss. The study, published in Cell Metabolism, compared three different diet plans among adults with obesity, elevated blood sugar, and excess liver fat.

While all three diets improved overall metabolic health through weight loss, the researchers found that limiting carbohydrates via a ketogenic diet provided additional therapeutic benefits for liver health and blood sugar control. Senior author Samuel Klein noted that the very low-carbohydrate approach provides extra effects on glucose and lipid metabolism, which may help prevent the progression of metabolic diseases.