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Genetics may influence LDL cholesterol response to low-carbohydrate diets, preliminary study finds

An analysis of trial data suggests individuals with a genetic predisposition to high cholesterol experience sharper LDL increases when consuming saturated fats on a low-carb diet.

Updated Aug 26, 2026 · 03:17 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • A preliminary study presented at NUTRITION 2026 indicates that genetic factors may determine whether a low-carbohydrate diet raises LDL cholesterol levels.
  • Researchers analyzing data from 431 trial participants found that those with high genetic risk showed the largest LDL cholesterol increases when consuming high amounts of saturated fat on a low-carb diet.
  • The same link between genetic risk, saturated fat, and elevated LDL cholesterol was not observed among participants on a low-fat diet.
  • Because the findings are preliminary and have not yet undergone peer review, researchers recommend that individuals monitor their cholesterol response to dietary changes rather than assuming uniform outcomes.

Key facts

  • Researchers analyzed genetic and dietary data from 431 participants in the DIETFITS randomized controlled trial who followed either a healthy low-carbohydrate or low-fat diet for one year.[ScienceDaily]
  • The study utilized polygenic risk scores combining thousands of genetic variants to assess overall genetic predisposition to higher LDL cholesterol.[ScienceDaily]
  • Participants genetically predisposed to higher LDL cholesterol experienced greater increases in LDL from baseline to six months on a low-carb diet when consuming higher levels of saturated fat.[ScienceDaily]
  • The study was presented at NUTRITION 2026 by Alexa Barad, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University School of Medicine.[ScienceDaily]

What remains uncertain

  • The findings are considered preliminary because conference abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2026 have not undergone the peer-review process required for journal publication.[ScienceDaily]
  • Further research is necessary to confirm the results and determine whether the genetic association applies broadly across more diverse demographic populations.[ScienceDaily]

Sources