yet another low carb diet research paper

I have about 20 people send me this news. This one made a bit of a splash because the NY Times picked up on it.

As usual I've read the original research report. The study is quite good.

• 148 men and women (60 in low fat and 59 in low carb completed the full test)
• Randomized clinical study
• Parallel trial
• The low-carb diet was indeed low carb (<40g/d)
• The low-fat diet was indeed low fat (<30%/d, <7%/d saturated)
• Measurements taken at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months

Results:

• Low carbers had greater decreases in weight (mean difference in change -3.5kg)
• Low carbers had greater decreases in fat mass (mean difference in change -1.5%)
• Low carbers had greater decreases in triglycerides (mean difference in change -0.16 mmol/L)
• Low carbers had greater increases in HDL (mean difference in change 0.18 mmol/L

Problem:

• Who cares about HDL? No one that knows what they are talking about.
• We know all this. What they didn't do is measure ApoB
• Where are we on the effects of resistant starch?
• Where are we on the effects of exogenous ketones?
• Where are we on the effects of glycemic index and loads with respect to carb heavy foods? Do we really know the differences between pure sugars, complex carbohydrates, and resistant starch?
• Where are we on genetic and racial factors (aka why are Asians so fucked when it comes to carbs)?