Lots of saturated fat: Norwegian study finds unexpected changes in the blood
On a low-carb diet high in saturated fat, LDL cholesterol rose modestly while triglycerides fell, a two-year University of Bergen study found. The authors urge caution.
Graphic: TERRA WORLD NEWS (own graphic based on the sources listed)
A diet very low in carbohydrates and high in saturated fat produces mixed changes in blood fats, according to a secondary analysis of the randomized CARBFUNC trial at the University of Bergen, published Oct. 24, 2026, in the journal eBioMedicine. In the trial, 193 adults with obesity from the Bergen area followed one of three diets for up to two years: under 10% of energy from carbohydrates and nearly a third from saturated fat, or one of two standard diets in line with official guidelines.
On the high-fat diet, LDL cholesterol rose 5% to 10%, mainly due to larger LDL particles. Triglycerides fell about 20% to 35%, and HDL cholesterol rose 5% to 18%. Apolipoprotein B did not increase, and CT scans after 12 months showed no clear increase in coronary artery calcification.
First author Cathrine Loddervik cautioned that the moderate rise in LDL cannot necessarily be considered insignificant. The study included only people with obesity and did not measure diseases such as heart attacks. Official guidelines typically advise getting less than a tenth of energy from saturated fat. This article is general information, not dietary advice.
This article is for information only and is not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. Figures as of the date stated.