A National Institutes of Health funded study states that low-carbohydrate weight loss diets are better as compared to low-fat diets for improving HDL cholesterol levels.

Same amount of weight was reduced by dieters who followed low-carb or low-fat plans for two years. But it was noticed that those who consumed a low-carb diet had their HDL levels increased.

Those who were on the low-fat diet did show their LDL levels decreasing but this did not stay on.

This has been stated for the first time that the low-carb diet has an edge over the low-fat diet when it comes to reducing risk factors for heart disease.

Lead researcher Gary D. Foster, PhD, of Temple University's Center for Obesity Research and Education said, "It is one of the longest to show this. For many years there have been concerns that the low-carbohydrate approach to weight loss was bad for the heart. This study would suggest those concerns are largely unfounded."

It does not mean that everyone should go on a low-carb diet, researchers added.