Recent Study Validates Effectiveness of Low-Carb Diets
 

from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/418266_6

Conference Report - North American Association for the Study of Obesity from Medscape Diabetes & Endocrinology

Low-Carbohydrate, High-Protein Diets
Physicians are often asked about the safety and efficacy of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets. Unfortunately, very few controlled studies have evaluated these popular regimens. These diets, which are often high in fat, raise concerns about their effects on lipid levels. One such diet, the Atkins Diet, restricts carbohydrates and encourages unlimited consumption of protein and fat.

Preliminary results were presented from a 3-center (University of Pennsylvania, University of Colorado, Washington University) randomized controlled trial comparing the Atkins Diet with a conventional low-fat, high-carbohydrate plan that restricted daily caloric intake to 1200-1500 kcal for women and 1500-1800 kcal for men.[10] The study included 63 obese (BMI 33.8 ± 3.4 kg/m2) males and females who were randomized to 1 of the 2 diets. Subjects received an initial session with a dietitian to explain the assigned diet program. At 12 weeks, the researchers found that the Atkins group had a lower rate of attrition (12%) compared with that of the conventional program (30%). In addition, subjects in the Atkins group lost significantly more weight (8.5 ± 3.7%) compared with the conventional group (3.7 ± 4.0%). In terms of serum lipids, the Atkins group demonstrated slight increases in total cholesterol (TC; 2.2 ± 16.6%) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (6.6 ± 20.7%), whereas the conventional group showed significant decreases in these measures (TC -8.2 ± 11.5%; LDL -11.1 ± 19.4%). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol significantly increased in the Atkins group (11.5 ± 20.6%) but did not change in the conventional group, whereas triglycerides showed a significant decrease for the Atkins group (-21.7 ± 27.9%) and no change in the conventional group. At 26 weeks, these changes persisted in both groups even though the sample size was smaller. The researchers concluded that the Atkins Diet produced favorable effects on weight, HDL, triglycerides, and retention compared with a conventional low-fat, low-calorie program, whereas the conventional plan was associated with more favorable effects on TC and LDL cholesterol.

A similar randomized-controlled trial from Duke University was also presented at the conference.[11] The researchers in this study also compared the effects of a low-carbohydrate (LC) diet with a low-fat, low-calorie (LF) program. This study included 120 obese (mean BMI 34 kg/m2) males and females, who all received group treatment for their respective diet programs. At 6 months, both groups had similar rates of attrition, but the LC group lost considerably more weight (13.3 ± 4.6%) compared with the LF group (8.6 ± 5.9%). In addition, the LC group lost significantly more fat mass than the LF group (-9.7 kg for the LC group and -6.4 kg for the LF group). Both groups showed decreases in triglycerides, with the LF group also showing a significant decrease in total cholesterol (-13.5 mg/dL). The LC group showed significant increases in HDL and a significant decrease in Chol/HDL ratio. This pattern of results was similar to those of the 3-center study described above. Longer-term studies are needed to more fully evaluate the safety and efficacy of these popular diet approaches.

The 2002 NAASO meeting will occur in San Diego, California, from February 23 as part of the First Annual Nutrition Week Conference.

Oy, should be VERY interesting, this upcoming 2002 NAASO meeting. I'll be keeping an eye out for any news.

great post! thanks for the info.

Nice find! I was waiting for this one, announced in last year's meating. :thup:

Wa'il

Found out some more information, there will be four different papers on the topic. Here's the list:

http://www.lowcarb.ca/articlesb/article338.html

Wa'il

It has happened to me!
 

I loved reading this report as the lowering of triglycerides and raising of HDL have been my experience! Last blood test I had, I was really pleased with the big drop in tri's as well as a big improvement in my HDL level. I have been on PP for five months. Last time I dieted (LF), my LDL came down a little, but along with that my HDL dropped significantly which was worrying. Not so now however! Like the report, I find this WOE so much easier to maintain than any other diet I have tried - it truly is a WOL not a diet!


Has anyone else had similar results?

Gemma

Great and encouraging information. Thanks! :D

Positive post
 

Thank you so much for this positive post. I hate reading the ones that are so down on lcing. It makes me a little more uncertain, because I'm still new at this. I get a little scared that I may be doing something unhealthy. These kind of posts make all the difference :daizy:

Thank you, Thank you...... :spin:

Same good results here too
 

Thanks for the post / info. I've had the same good results w/blood tests.

A freind of mine noticed my veins in my arms showing a lot. Like 4-7 noticable veins popping out, down the length of my arms. He suggested I get myself tested. (Him thinking "all" we eat is red meat on this WOL) But it worried me, so I had the test done.
Chol=180, tri's in the basement, LDL / HDL all below the mark too.

Feeling great, lots of energy, not going hungry while loosing weight, and good LDL/HDL too. How can you not go with this WOL, to lose the weight!

Cheers, John

I think I will email that to the next person that says "Ooh your'e not on that dangerous diet are you?"
It's nice to have some research to back up what we already know!

Cocoabear

Did anyone see any news reports about this? Of course, coming in the middle of the Olympics the timing was bad. But still I can't help thinking that if they had announced some new wonder drug for weight loss or had said that low carb will kill you, it would have been item number 4 on the news at 11.

Susan