Lipedema and Nutrition: What’s the Link?

Abstract

Lipedema is a dysfunction of the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), it is characteristic of women, although it is reported in rare cases also in men, it was described for the first time in 1940, with a better characterization in 1951, although this is often still confused with classic obesity. It affects the lower and upper limbs, the buttocks, usually sparing the feet and trunk. It is classified into 3 stages and 5 types, according to the anatomical area affected, 2 variants according to the shape of the tissue enlargement. The tissues are nodular to the touch and this, among other things, suggests an inflammatory phenomenon. The treatments concern surgery (bariatric and liposuction), compression garments, physiotherapy. Lipedema surgery is a specific lipedema procedure to treat the tissue enlargement. Bariatric surgery can be an option only to treat obesity when present in comorbidity (lifestyle induced or with metabolic issues). None or minimal effect on lipedema fat. An approach that is having an interesting response is the ketogenic diet (a nutritional approach that provides for a carbohydrate intake of less than 30g per day), in previous work we have demonstrated the marked anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action of this nutritional approach, which could prove effective in assist the treatment of lipedema.

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