The Claim

In patients with coronary artery disease undergoing cardiac rehabilitation, both low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets produce significantly greater reductions in body mass index, body fat percentage, and visceral fat than a standard diet over a 3–4 week period.

Source: Biomarker-based risk assessment of dietary intervention in patients with coronary artery disease during cardiac rehabilitation—a quasi-experimental study

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
65score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Cause and effect
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Among patients with coronary artery disease in cardiac rehabilitation, those following a low-carbohydrate or low-fat diet lose more body weight, body fat, and visceral fat over 3–4 weeks than those following a standard diet.

See the scientific wording

In patients with coronary artery disease undergoing cardiac rehabilitation, both low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets result in significantly greater reductions in body mass index, body fat percentage, and visceral fat compared to a standard diet over 3–4 weeks, suggesting that structured dietary intervention enhances body composition improvements beyond standard care.

Why this might work

When people eat fewer carbs or less fat, their bodies switch to burning stored fat for energy, which causes fat cells to shrink and reduces fat around organs and under the skin.

Supported mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Biomarker-based risk assessment of dietary intervention in patients with coronary artery disease during cardiac rehabilitation—a quasi-experimental study

    For heart patients in rehab, eating either low-carb or low-fat meals helped them lose more weight and body fat than eating a normal healthy diet—even if they ate the same number of calories. This means changing what you eat, not just how much, can help your body shape improve.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.