Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Box 50, Suite 200-B Wing, 2200 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27705, USA. ewestman@duke.edu
In response to the emerging epidemic of obesity in the United States, a renewal of interest in alternative diets has occurred, especially in diets that limit carbohydrate intake. Recent research has demonstrated that low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets can lead to weight loss and favorable changes in serum triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. This review summarizes the physiology and recent clinical studies regarding this type of diet.