the effects of high protein intake on cardiovascular risk factors and weight loss in low caloric diets in obese adults: a systematic review

Background: this systematic review has been undertaken in order to assess the effects of hypocaloric, high-protein diets on weight loss and cardiovascular risk factors such as serum lipid levels in metabolically healthy obese adults. the primary outcomes measured include changes in pre- and post- diet mean bmi, ldl-c, hdl-c, tag, and tc levels. method: four databases including: embase, medline (via pubmed), cochrane and web of science were searched with no restrictions on language or publication period. clinicaltrials.gov was also searched in order to identify unpublished or on-going studies.results: three of four studies included in this systematic review noted a significantly greater loss in pre- and post- diet mean bmi levels in the hypocaloric, high-protein diet group as compared to hypocaloric, non-high protein diets (control). whilst pre- and post-diet mean ldl-c, hdl-c, tag, and tc levels did not differ significantly among hypocaloric, high-protein and control diet groups.conclusion: hypocaloric, high-protein diets had an unclear effect on blood-lipid levels as compared to control. weight loss however was significantly greater in the hypocaloric, high-protein group as compared to other hypocaloric, non-high-protein diet groups.