Objective:

To summarize the effects of dietary carbohydrate modifications on fasting serum insulin and HOMA-IR in overweight and obese children and adolescents.

Key Findings:

• Carbohydrate-modified diets may improve insulin sensitivity indicators such as fasting serum insulin and HOMA-IR.
• Previous meta-analyses showed inconclusive results regarding the impact of carbohydrate modifications on insulin homeostasis in pediatric populations, with some studies reporting no significant effects.
• The systematic review aimed to clarify the effects of dietary carbohydrate adjustments on insulin resistance.

Interpretation:

The findings suggest that dietary carbohydrate modifications could be beneficial for improving insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese youth, but further research is urgently needed to confirm these effects.

Limitations:

• Inconsistencies in study designs and outcomes reported across included trials.
• Limited number of studies specifically addressing insulin homeostasis in children and adolescents.
• Exclusion of studies involving adults limits the generalizability of the findings.

Conclusion:

Carbohydrate-adjusted diets may offer a promising approach to enhance insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese children and adolescents, warranting further investigation.