Effect of monotherapeutic caloric restriction diet on cardiometabolic parameters in adults with overweight or obesity: Insights from meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials.
Tran Quang Duc, Nguyen Di Khanh, Dang Khoa Dang et al.
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials examined monotherapeutic caloric restriction diets versus usual diets in 1066 adults at high cardiovascular risk; all trial populations had a mean baseline BMI ≥30 kg/m². Caloric restriction reduced body weight (MD: -6.29 kg; 95% CI: -7.51 to -5.06) and improved several measures of adiposity, insulin resistance, HbA1c, and blood pressure. It also reduced lean body mass. No significant effects were found for lipid profiles, glucose levels, or high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
Key findings
- Body weight decreased by MD: -6.29 kg (95% CI: -7.51 to -5.06) compared with usual diet.
- Systolic blood pressure fell by MD: -6.06 mmHg (95% CI: -9.46 to -2.65), and diastolic pressure by MD: -3.79 mmHg (95% CI: -6.34 to -1.25).
- HbA1c decreased by MD: -0.31% (95% CI: -0.61 to -0.01); fasting insulin and HOMA-IR also improved.
- Lean body mass decreased by MD: -1.34 kg (95% CI: -2.14 to -0.53); lipid profiles, glucose, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein showed no significant effects.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that caloric restriction alone can improve weight, selected glycaemic measures, and blood pressure in adults with obesity, while also reducing lean mass. The absence of significant changes in lipids, glucose, and inflammatory markers indicates that benefits are not uniform across cardiometabolic outcomes. These results help clarify the evidence for caloric restriction as distinct from approaches such as intermittent fasting.
What to keep in mind
The evidence applies to trial populations with mean baseline BMI ≥30 kg/m², limiting generalisability to adults without obesity. Trials had low to moderate risk of bias, and the abstract does not report follow-up duration.