There would be no one-size-fits-all diet suitable for all types of people. In question, genetics! A new study from Texas A&M University in the United States shows that what works for some may not work for others. Their results are published in the journal Genetics.
The researchers used four groups of mice. Within each group, genetic differences were almost nonexistent, while between two groups, they were comparable to two unrelated people. 4 diets, reflecting ours, were tested over a period of 6 months: the American diet (rich in fats and refined carbohydrates, mainly based on corn), the mediterranean diet (wheat and red wine extract), Japanese (with rice and green tea extracts) and the ketogenic diet (rich in fat and protein, but with very little carbohydrate). Aside from the American diet, the other three are considered balanced and healthy. During the course of the study, scientists measured hypertension arterial, cholesterol, the amount of fat in the liver and the blood sugar levels.
4 regimes, a multitude of different effects
Although the so-called “healthy” diets worked for most mice, one of the 4 genetic types reacted very badly to the Japanese diet with increased fat in the liver with signs of damage. The ketogenic diet showed good results in two of the groups but very bad results in the other two. They became obese, with fatty livers and high cholesterol. Likewise, some groups have suffered less than others from the negative effects of the American regime. With the Mediterranean diet, there was a mixture of effects. Some were very healthy, while others gained weight.
The aim of this study was to develop the optimal diet. But these results show that a diet that makes one person lose weight could have the opposite effect on another! According to the researchers, it would depend very much on the genetics of the individual and what our ancestors would have eaten. The team is now focusing on determining the genes involved in the response to diets. This would ultimately aim to develop a genetic test that can identify the best diet for a person.
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