119 | id == 119
119 | category_id == 15
119 | category_order == 11
119 | category_name == Diet
119 | category_color == #C47AC0
119 | slug == CETP-weight-loss-low-carb-keto-diet
119 | title == Can This Gene Boost Weight Loss on a Low-Carb Diet? (CETP)
119 | meta_description == CETP affects blood fats, but can some genetic variations also help you lose weight if you restrict carbs? Find out here.
119 | summary == <p>CETP is a gene that affects blood fats, heart health, and keto diet suitability. Do you carry the variations that may boost weight loss on a low-carb diet?</p>
119 | overall_score_text == Your Low-Carb Diet Weight Loss Score (based on CETP)
119 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/CETP--Diet.jpg
119 | author_id == 5
119 | author_name == Ana Aleksic
119 | author_title == MS (Pharmacy)
119 | author_order == 20
119 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Ana.jpg
119 | author_intro == <p><strong>Ana received her MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade.</strong></p>    <p>Ana has many years of experience in clinical research and health advising. She loves communicating science and empowering people to achieve their optimal health. Ana spent years working with patients who suffer from various mental health issues and chronic health problems. She is a strong advocate of integrating scientific knowledge and holistic medicine.</p>
119 | reviewer == None
119 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
119 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
119 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
119 | publish_date == 2020
119 | publish_date == 3
119 | publish_date == 19
119 | avg_rating == 5.0
119 | tags_id == 190
119 | tags_name == CETP Gene
119 | tags_id == 301
119 | tags_name == Keto diet
119 | tags_id == 307
119 | tags_name == Lipid levels
119 | tags_id == 315
119 | tags_name == Low-carb diet
119 | tags_id == 184
119 | tags_name == Weight Loss
119 | permissions_favorite == False
119 | permissions_rate == False
119 | content_article == <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">The CETP Gene</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The</span><a href="../../gene/cetp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> CETP gene</span></em></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> codes for a protein called CETP (short for cholesteryl ester transfer protein) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12588754"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CETP helps balance </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">cholesterol</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/triglycerides/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">triglyceride</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> levels in the blood. Its main job is to transfer cholesterol and triglycerides between </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/hdl-cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">HDL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/ldl-cholesterol/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">LDL</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> cholesterol, helping to remove excess fats from the bloodstream. This gene is best known for specifically affecting levels of the &ldquo;good&rdquo; HDL cholesterol [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12588754"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29141072"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For this reason, the bulk of CETP research has focused on heart health. Whether CETP activity increases or decreases the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease is still uncertain [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30879338"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yet, </span><strong>recent studies have uncovered a link between certain CETP variations and weight loss on ketogenic and other low-carb diets</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479825/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Controversial Effects on Heart Health Possibly Linked with Weight Loss</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before we jump ahead, it&rsquo;s worthwhile going over CETP&rsquo;s effect on the heart, since the same mechanism may underlie its role in weight management.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the one hand, CETP may help prevent atherosclerosis (artery hardening and clogging) by removing excess cholesterol. On the other hand, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">reducing</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> CETP activity may help increase HDL and lower LDL to help prevent atherosclerosis [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4790583/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5962737/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4790583/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4255097/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14559957"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We have yet to see exactly how CETP activity and different genetic variations may affect heart health, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/lifestyle-diet-increase-longevity/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">longevity</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and well-being.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>Scientists believe that, by filtering out certain fats from the blood, some CETP variations may also have weight-busting potential--as long as carbs are out of the picture.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This association is still inconclusive, though, since only a couple of studies on CETP and low-carb diets have been published so far.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Remember that many other genetic and non-genetic factors also influence a person&rsquo;s response to diet and their ability to lose weight. Dietary interventions should always be part of a holistic weight management program that takes these factors and your overall health into account.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With this in mind, let&rsquo;s review the nutritional strategies that different CETP genotypes might benefit from--and what this means for low-carb and ketogenic diet modifications.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">CETP is a gene that influences cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Certain variations may enhance weight loss in people on low-carb diets.&nbsp;</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How CETP Might Enable Weight Loss on Low-Carb Diets</span></h2> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Initial Study Suggests CETP Variations and Carb Restriction Act in Synergy&nbsp;</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientists have proposed that recently discovered CETP variations may act in synergy with low-carb diets.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mainly, both carbohydrate restriction and CETP can reduce triglycerides. Like carbohydrate restriction, some CETP variations may also remodel LDL and HDL cholesterol into less dangerous (bigger) particles and enhance fat burning. This ultimately leads to healthier weight loss [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479825/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In fact, this new CETP association reveals an overlooked aspect of weight loss: fat metabolism in blood vessels.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It&rsquo;s well known that obese people are much more likely to have raised blood fats and other metabolic problems. Yet, lowering blood fat levels was never seen as a mechanistic prerequisite for weight loss until a study published in 2006 first pointed out this link [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479825/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The authors of the study suggested that the body needs to be efficient at processing and removing excess blood fats for people to lose weight when they follow carb-restricted diets--and CETP variations seemed to play in.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The study included only 86 healthy adults who were told to restrict carbs to about 10% of total energy intake, a level that induces slight </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ketogenic-diet-ketosis-health-benefits-physiology-genetics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">ketosis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This type of diet is also called a </span><strong>very-low-carb diet</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Put simply, it&rsquo;s the same as a </span><strong>liberal keto diet</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that provides about 50 g/day of carbs in a 2000 kcal/day regime. By comparison, the stricter keto version allows for only 20 g/day of carbs or less.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On average, people on the very-low-carb diet lost around 14 pounds (6.4 kg) over 4-12 weeks, with large variability within the group. Once the researchers ruled out differences in caloric intake, gender, age, and activity, they concluded that genetics was a significant contributor [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479825/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>The main CETP SNP researchers found a weight-loss association with was </strong><a href="../../snp/rs5883/"><strong>rs5883</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Unlike some other better-known CETP SNPs, we still don&rsquo;t know much else about rs5883 and how it might affect CETP activity [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479825/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>The rare T allele (TT and TC genotypes) of rs5883 was much more frequent in people who lost more weight on a very-low-carb diet.&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For example, about 50% of people who lost the largest amount of weight--around 45 lbs (20 kg)--were carriers of the rare T allele. To put things into perspective, only about 6% of the general population carry this allele.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Overall, it appears that most people (CC genotype) have a typical weight loss response to the very-low-carb, keto-style diet based on this CETP variation. They may still benefit from a low-carb diet, but their response seems to be less pronounced.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A very-low-carb diet can still be a healthy choice for people with the CC genotype. But based on this study, they are likely better off focusing on other proven diets for healthy weight loss.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Genetics aside, the authors emphasize that diet compliance is key. Sticking to the diet was important for weight loss independent of genetic variations. In the study, people lost about 1 lb for each additional week of staying on the very-low-carb diet [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479825/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">People with TT and TC CETP rs5883 genotypes looking to lose weight seem to be well suited for keto-type diets.&nbsp; Contrarily, those who carry the more common genotype (CC) lost less weight on average on the same diet.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another CETP Variant Linked With Weight Loss from Low-Fat &amp; Keto Diets</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the best-studied CETP SNPs is </span><a href="../../snp/rs3764261/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs3764261</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Variations in this SNP have already been linked to everything from metabolic syndrome to high blood fats (HDL, LDL, and triglyceride levels) to macular degeneration to HIV infection.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Two studies of about 900 overweight adults in total recently looked at rs3764261 in a new light.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with the CC genotype on a </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/low-carb-diet-vs-high-carb-diet/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">high-fat diet</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> had larger increases in HDL cholesterol and decreases in triglycerides, compared to a low-fat diet at 6 months. They didn&rsquo;t find any differences in response to these two diets among people with the AA and CA genotypes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4340318/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>People with the CETP rs3764261 AA or CA genotype have a typical response to both keto- and low-fat diets.</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The health effects of low-fat diets are mixed. People who fall within this group might be better off choosing any weight-loss diet, as long as they&rsquo;re getting enough heart-healthy fats and nutrients.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">P<strong style="font-weight: 400;">eople with the CETP rs3764261 CC genotype might experience greater benefits from the keto diet</strong>. They don&rsquo;t do well on low-fat diets.&nbsp;</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your CETP Results for Weight Loss on a Low-Carb Diet</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">*3049430029429834*</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">SNP Summary and Table</span></h3> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can see your genotypes for CETP in the table below. However, keep in mind that these associations are based on studies from certain ethnic populations &mdash; so you should interpret your results with caution if you are not descended from one of these specific groups!</span></em></p> <p><strong>Primary SNP: CETP </strong><a href="../../snp/rs5883/"><strong>rs5883</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;TT&rsquo; and &lsquo;TC&rsquo; = Enhanced weight loss from a very-low-carb/keto diet</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;CC&rsquo; = Typical, less pronounced weight loss from a very-low-carb/keto diet</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Secondary SNP: CETP&nbsp; </strong><a href="../../snp/rs3764261/"><strong>rs3764261</strong></a></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;CC&rsquo; = Better response to the keto diet (&uarr; HDL, &darr; triglycerides); avoid low-fat diets</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;AA&rsquo; and &lsquo;AC&rsquo; =&nbsp; Typical blood fat levels in response to both keto- and low-fat diets;</span></li> </ul> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Population Frequency</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">About 10% of the worldwide population carry the </span><strong>CT genotype for CETP rs5883</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">; The TT genotype is extremely rare, while 90% of the population carry the CC genotype. Here are some interesting ethnic differences:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">22% of people of African ancestry are CT and over 1% are TT&nbsp;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">10% of European descendants are CT</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only 6% of Central and South Americans are CT, while TT is almost nonexistent (under 0.3%)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The T allele is highly uncommon among East Asians, 99.8% of which are CC</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Similarly, almost 97% of South Asians are CC</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to the other SNP, about 51% of people worldwide carry the </span><strong>CC genotype for CETP rs3764261</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">; 9% are AA and 40% are AC. The CC genotype is somewhat less common among people of African ancestry (44%) and more common among people of East Asian ancestry (68%).&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">*5163362015505264*</span></p> <h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to Lose More Weight on a Low-Carb Diet</span></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">*6384399090420907*</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diet</span></h3> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you believe you may have imbalances in your lipid levels, always speak with your doctor first. Imbalances may be a sign of a serious medical condition. Also, talk to your doctor before implementing any of the following strategies. There may be unexpected interactions with your current medications or health conditions.&nbsp; None of these recommendations should ever be used to replace any of the treatments or medications that your doctor gives you.</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Countless variations to the low-carb diet exist. The studies covered in this article follow a </span><strong>keto-style low-carb diet</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, also known as the very-low-carb diet. The breakdown of macronutrients from total daily calories on this diet was as follows [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479825/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:&nbsp;</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">8&ndash;13% carbohydrates</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">60&ndash;63% fat</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">28&ndash;30% protein</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There were no restrictions on the type of fat (saturated vs. unsaturated). Foods commonly consumed were beef, poultry, fish, vegetable oils, and various nuts and seeds. The diet was moderate in vegetables, salads, cheese, eggs, and water or low-carb drinks [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1479825/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gene-Based Diet Modifications</span></h4> <p><strong>The keto/very-low-fat diet is better suited for weight loss for people with T-allele rs5883 carriers (CT or TT genotype)</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. People who have the</span><strong> CC genotype for rs3764261</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will also probably do better on this diet, which might help keep their blood fat levels in check, compared to low-fat diets.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the other hand, </span><strong>CC rs5883 carriers might want to go with the typical low-carb diet that still includes up to 20% of carbs and emphasizes greater fiber intake</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This might be especially beneficial for healthy weight loss in combination with higher protein intake (25-40% of total intake)&nbsp; [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163457/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following</span><strong> the Mediterranean diet</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is also a good choice for</span><strong> CC rs5883 and AA/AC rs3764261 carriers</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This diet is generally healthy and solid research backs it up for weight loss. Importantly, it&rsquo;s known to increase the &ldquo;good&rdquo; HDL cholesterol and support the heart [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28193797"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People who carry the A allele for rs3764261 (AA/AC genotypes) had similar blood fat levels on a high- and low-fat diet. Low-fat diets are an option backed up by decent evidence for weight loss, but their effect on general well-being is less convincing [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163457/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Evidence suggests that low-fat diets reduce both the &ldquo;good&rdquo; and &ldquo;bad&rdquo; cholesterol (HDL and LDL), while their impact on heart health is controversial. Overall, </span><strong>low-fat diets are likely not the healthiest choice for most people</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, unless recommended by a doctor for specific medical reasons [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10706579"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28515068"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316552/#sec3-nutrients-10-01912title"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For more tips on weight loss, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ways-to-lose-weight-fast/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">read this post</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
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119 | content_learn_more_5163362015505264_text == Your CETP variants are associated with a typical weight loss response to very-low-carb, ketogenic diets. Mediterranean-style and and low-carb, high-protein diets may be a better choice for you. Read on to learn more and get gene-based tips to further optimize your diet.
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rsIDs = rs3764261,rs5883
rsStatus = rs3764261,,chr16,56959412,C,A,,,44,0,Normal
rsStatus = rs5883,CETP,chr16,56973441,C,T,,,23,13,HET
