Longest scientific study yet backs Atkins diet

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99995003

Longest scientific study yet backs Atkins diet

12:21 18 May 04

NewScientist.com news service

The claimed benefits of the controversial low-carbohydrate Atkins diet
have been reaffirmed in two new studies, one of which is the longest
study to date.

"I think it's good news for Atkins dieters," says Linda Stern, who led
the first study of 132 obese patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical
Center in Philadelphia, US.

The diet was devised by the late US doctor Robert Atkins. To lose
weight, devotees avoid carbohydrates and consume more protein and fat
instead.

Both new studies found that subjects on the Atkins diet shed
significant amounts of weight without harmful effects on blood fats
and sugars. But the studies have failed to silence critics of the
diet, who want the US government to investigate alleged adverse
effects.

Stern's year-long study (Annals of Internal Medicine, vol 140, p778)
was twice the length of any previous study. Half the patients followed
the Atkins regime, limiting daily carbohydrate intake to just 30
grams. The rest tried losing weight through a conventional low-fat
diet much richer in carbohydrates.

By the end, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight,
between five and eight kilograms for the Atkins group and three and
eight kilos for the low fat group. But the Atkins dieters lost almost
all their weight in the first six months, then remained at a steady
weight.

Stern says that this pattern of rapid weight loss matches that seen in
an earlier but shorter study of Atkins dieters, by Gary Foster's team
at the University of Pennsylvania in May 2003. "I'm impressed that
they didn't gain it all back," says Stern.

Compared with the low-fat group, Atkins dieters also had lower levels
of triglycerides, potentially harmful blood sugars which can trigger
heart disease. Concentrations of beneficial high density cholesterols
(HDLs) also held up better in the Atkins group. And these favourable
changes remained till the end of the study, suggesting that there
might be lasting benefits.

"But what we really need is a study showing whether people on the
low-carbohydrate diet for years have different odds of heart attacks,
strokes and diabetes," she says.

A second, six-month study on 120 overweight patients at Duke
University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, echoes the first,
with low-carbohydrate dieters shedding an average of 12 kilos, twice
that lost by those on a low-fat regime (Annals of Internal Medicine,
vol 140, p769). And the pattern of blood fats and sugars mirrored that
in Stern's study.

"Over six months, the diet appears to be relatively safe, but we need
to study the safety for longer durations," says Will Yancy, head of
the Duke team.

But critics highlight some negative findings from the Duke study.
"This new evidence confirms that levels of 'bad' cholesterol worsen in
a substantial number of low-carbohydrate dieters," said Neal Barnard
of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a vegan lobby
group in Washington DC.

"And the supposedly dramatic benefits of the diet do not hold up over
the long term," said Barnard, referring to the end of weight loss
after six months in the Stern study.

Although broadly supportive of the Atkins regime, Yancy warns that the
diet could pose risks including the higher "bad" cholesterol, bone
loss and kidney stones. Because of this, he discourages first-time
dieters from using the regime.

Andy Coghlan

****************************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3722221.stm

Scientists endorse Atkins diet

Following a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet is a more effective
way to lose weight than following a low fat diet, say US researchers.

Two studies published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found
weight loss was greatest when people followed an Atkins-style diet.

Cholesterol levels also seemed to improve more on a low-carb diet
compared to a low-fat diet.

However, the research was funded by the Robert C Atkins Foundation.

And critics say there are still serious doubts about the long-term
effect on health of adopting such diets.

In the first study, researchers at Duke University Medical Center in
Durham, North Carolina, assigned 120 obese volunteers to either a
low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet or a low-fat, low-cholesterol,
low-calorie diet.

After six months, the people on the Atkins-style diet had lost an
average of 26 pounds, compared to an average of 14 pounds in the
conventional low-fat diet group.

The low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet also had a good effect on fat
levels.

The Atkins dieters lost more body fat, lowered their triglyceride
levels and raised their "good" HDL cholesterol levels more than the
low-fat dieters.

In the second study, researchers at the Veterans Affairs Medical
Center in Philadelphia followed 132 obese adults who were randomised
to either low-carbohydrate or low-fat diet groups.

Again, after six months the people following the low-carbohydrate diet
lost the most weight and had improved fat levels.

However, at 12 months both groups had lost similar amounts of weight.

The low fat group had continued to lose weight from six to 12 months
while the average weight in the low-carbohydrate group had remained
steady after six months.

Lead author of the Philadelphia study Dr Linda Stern said: "I think a
low-carbohydrate diet is a good choice because much of our overeating
has to do with consumption of too many carbohydrates."

But she said more research was needed to see if a low-carbohydrate
diet remained safe and effective over the longer term.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr Walter Willett, from the Harvard
School of Public Health in the US, said: "We can no longer dismiss
very-low-carbohydrate diets."

But he added that such diets should include healthy sources of protein
and fat and incorporate regular exercise.

"Patients should focus on finding ways to eat that they can maintain
indefinitely rather than seeking diets that promote rapid weight
loss," he said.

Dr David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: "There
is no doubt that if low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets are followed
properly you will lose weight.

"What's always been questioned is the long term efficacy of such diets
and in the short term, with weight loss, there are certain risks in
certain patients - like patients with renal problems."

"There's still no long term data about the efficacy and you can't
stick on that type of diet for long because it's unpalatable," he
said.

Dr Haslam called for more research spanning five to six years rather
than months.

He said the best diet was still a healthy, balanced diet cutting out
excessive fat.

"One thing the Atkins isn't is balanced. It's not what the body
expects and that's why we don't know the long term changes," he said.

Dietzmina Govindji, of the British Dietetic Association, also warned
people against thinking Atkins, or other similar diets, were the best
way to lose weight.

She said: "Do not be sucked in by the cabbage soup diet and other fad
diets.

"The thing to remember about all these quick-fix diets is they do help
you lose weight very, very quickly but often you will put it back on
very, very quickly and they often miss out on whole food groups, so
you are not getting the full range of vitamins and minerals you need."

Can't comment on the article, but one would think that people who are
educated to become writers of articles would know what a "regime" is and
what a "regimen" is.

Diarmid Logan wrote:

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99995003

Longest scientific study yet backs Atkins diet

12:21 18 May 04

NewScientist.com news service

The claimed benefits of the controversial low-carbohydrate Atkins diet
have been reaffirmed in two new studies, one of which is the longest
study to date.

"I think it's good news for Atkins dieters," says Linda Stern, who led
the first study of 132 obese patients at the Veterans Affairs Medical
Center in Philadelphia, US.

The diet was devised by the late US doctor Robert Atkins. To lose
weight, devotees avoid carbohydrates and consume more protein and fat
instead.

Both new studies found that subjects on the Atkins diet shed
significant amounts of weight without harmful effects on blood fats
and sugars. But the studies have failed to silence critics of the
diet, who want the US government to investigate alleged adverse
effects.

Stern's year-long study (Annals of Internal Medicine, vol 140, p778)
was twice the length of any previous study. Half the patients followed
the Atkins regime, limiting daily carbohydrate intake to just 30
grams. The rest tried losing weight through a conventional low-fat
diet much richer in carbohydrates.

By the end, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight,
between five and eight kilograms for the Atkins group and three and
eight kilos for the low fat group. But the Atkins dieters lost almost
all their weight in the first six months, then remained at a steady
weight.

Stern says that this pattern of rapid weight loss matches that seen in
an earlier but shorter study of Atkins dieters, by Gary Foster's team
at the University of Pennsylvania in May 2003. "I'm impressed that
they didn't gain it all back," says Stern.

Compared with the low-fat group, Atkins dieters also had lower levels
of triglycerides, potentially harmful blood sugars which can trigger
heart disease. Concentrations of beneficial high density cholesterols
(HDLs) also held up better in the Atkins group. And these favourable
changes remained till the end of the study, suggesting that there
might be lasting benefits.

"But what we really need is a study showing whether people on the
low-carbohydrate diet for years have different odds of heart attacks,
strokes and diabetes," she says.

A second, six-month study on 120 overweight patients at Duke
University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, echoes the first,
with low-carbohydrate dieters shedding an average of 12 kilos, twice
that lost by those on a low-fat regime (Annals of Internal Medicine,
vol 140, p769). And the pattern of blood fats and sugars mirrored that
in Stern's study.

"Over six months, the diet appears to be relatively safe, but we need
to study the safety for longer durations," says Will Yancy, head of
the Duke team.

But critics highlight some negative findings from the Duke study.
"This new evidence confirms that levels of 'bad' cholesterol worsen in
a substantial number of low-carbohydrate dieters," said Neal Barnard
of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a vegan lobby
group in Washington DC.

"And the supposedly dramatic benefits of the diet do not hold up over
the long term," said Barnard, referring to the end of weight loss
after six months in the Stern study.

Although broadly supportive of the Atkins regime, Yancy warns that the
diet could pose risks including the higher "bad" cholesterol, bone
loss and kidney stones. Because of this, he discourages first-time
dieters from using the regime.

Andy Coghlan

****************************************

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3722221.stm

Scientists endorse Atkins diet

Following a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet is a more effective
way to lose weight than following a low fat diet, say US researchers.

Two studies published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found
weight loss was greatest when people followed an Atkins-style diet.

Cholesterol levels also seemed to improve more on a low-carb diet
compared to a low-fat diet.

However, the research was funded by the Robert C Atkins Foundation.

And critics say there are still serious doubts about the long-term
effect on health of adopting such diets.

In the first study, researchers at Duke University Medical Center in
Durham, North Carolina, assigned 120 obese volunteers to either a
low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet or a low-fat, low-cholesterol,
low-calorie diet.

After six months, the people on the Atkins-style diet had lost an
average of 26 pounds, compared to an average of 14 pounds in the
conventional low-fat diet group.

The low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet also had a good effect on fat
levels.

The Atkins dieters lost more body fat, lowered their triglyceride
levels and raised their "good" HDL cholesterol levels more than the
low-fat dieters.

In the second study, researchers at the Veterans Affairs Medical
Center in Philadelphia followed 132 obese adults who were randomised
to either low-carbohydrate or low-fat diet groups.

Again, after six months the people following the low-carbohydrate diet
lost the most weight and had improved fat levels.

However, at 12 months both groups had lost similar amounts of weight.

The low fat group had continued to lose weight from six to 12 months
while the average weight in the low-carbohydrate group had remained
steady after six months.

Lead author of the Philadelphia study Dr Linda Stern said: "I think a
low-carbohydrate diet is a good choice because much of our overeating
has to do with consumption of too many carbohydrates."

But she said more research was needed to see if a low-carbohydrate
diet remained safe and effective over the longer term.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr Walter Willett, from the Harvard
School of Public Health in the US, said: "We can no longer dismiss
very-low-carbohydrate diets."

But he added that such diets should include healthy sources of protein
and fat and incorporate regular exercise.

"Patients should focus on finding ways to eat that they can maintain
indefinitely rather than seeking diets that promote rapid weight
loss," he said.

Dr David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: "There
is no doubt that if low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets are followed
properly you will lose weight.

"What's always been questioned is the long term efficacy of such diets
and in the short term, with weight loss, there are certain risks in
certain patients - like patients with renal problems."

"There's still no long term data about the efficacy and you can't
stick on that type of diet for long because it's unpalatable," he
said.

Dr Haslam called for more research spanning five to six years rather
than months.

He said the best diet was still a healthy, balanced diet cutting out
excessive fat.

"One thing the Atkins isn't is balanced. It's not what the body
expects and that's why we don't know the long term changes," he said.

Dietzmina Govindji, of the British Dietetic Association, also warned
people against thinking Atkins, or other similar diets, were the best
way to lose weight.

She said: "Do not be sucked in by the cabbage soup diet and other fad
diets.

"The thing to remember about all these quick-fix diets is they do help
you lose weight very, very quickly but often you will put it back on
very, very quickly and they often miss out on whole food groups, so
you are not getting the full range of vitamins and minerals you need."

--
The post you just read, unless otherwise noted, is strictly my opinion
and experience. Please interpret accordingly.

"Diarmid Logan" wrote in message
om...
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99995003


Compared with the low-fat group, Atkins dieters also had lower levels
of triglycerides, potentially harmful blood sugars which can trigger
heart disease. Concentrations of beneficial high density cholesterols
(HDLs) also held up better in the Atkins group. And these favourable
changes remained till the end of the study, suggesting that there
might be lasting benefits.

Andy Coghlan



Andy I saw this on the news today (and last night), where they covered this
subject.

Thanks for posting this here.

It reflects my own experience as well.

--
Regards,
Evelyn

(to reply to me personally, remove 'sox")

On 5/18/04 10:44 PM, in article
, "Diarmid Logan"
wrote:

By the end, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight,
between five and eight kilograms for the Atkins group and three and
eight kilos for the low fat group. But the Atkins dieters lost almost
all their weight in the first six months, then remained at a steady
weight.

Which is precisely the PROBLEM I had with Atkins. After six months I entered
a six month stall, and have only broken that stall by switching to a
low-calorie diet.

doug

On Tue, 18 May 2004 23:43:27 +0900, Doug Lerner wrote:

On 5/18/04 10:44 PM, in article
, "Diarmid Logan"
wrote:

By the end, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight,
between five and eight kilograms for the Atkins group and three and
eight kilos for the low fat group. But the Atkins dieters lost almost
all their weight in the first six months, then remained at a steady
weight.

Which is precisely the PROBLEM I had with Atkins. After six months I
entered
a six month stall, and have only broken that stall by switching to a
low-calorie diet.

doug


Did you increase your carbohydrate intake, as required by Atkins, during
this period? Did you find your critical carbohydrate level for losing?
What most people do is keep eating at 20-30 grams of carbs per day, which
is not what Atkins advocates. Did you exercise? Also, calories are
always important, regardless of what "diet" you follow.

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply

"Bob in CT" wrote in message
news
Did you increase your carbohydrate intake, as required by Atkins, during
this period? Did you find your critical carbohydrate level for losing?
What most people do is keep eating at 20-30 grams of carbs per day, which
is not what Atkins advocates. Did you exercise? Also, calories are
always important, regardless of what "diet" you follow.

--
Bob in CT
Remove ".x" to reply



Very good points, which also reflect my own experience. I lost a certain
amount of weight then stalled, and I wasn't too meticulous about watching
those things (above) and I was lazy about exercise too. I think some sort
of a modified version will evolve that may be best for me. Maybe South
Beach or something..... and the exercise of course.
--
Regards,
Evelyn

(to reply to me personally, remove 'sox")

Bob in CT wrote:
Doug Lerner wrote:
Diarmid Logan wrote:

By the end, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight,
between five and eight kilograms for the Atkins group and three and
eight kilos for the low fat group. But the Atkins dieters lost almost
all their weight in the first six months, then remained at a steady
weight.

Which is precisely the PROBLEM I had with Atkins. After six months I
entered a six month stall, and have only broken that stall by
switching to a low-calorie diet.

Did you increase your carbohydrate intake, as required by Atkins, during
this period? Did you find your critical carbohydrate level for losing?

He did not, and so he caused his own stall. He has since decided
against doing all of the work involved in repairing the metabolic
damage doing that caused and decided that caloric reduction is the
be-all and end-all of weight loss. But since caloric reduction is
working for him, good enough in his case. But the experience has
given him quite a bias on the topic.

What most people do is keep eating at 20-30 grams of carbs per day,
which is not what Atkins advocates.

Unfortunately while newbies need certainty Dr A is willing to discuss
alternatives to his core plan. Most dive face first into those
alternatives. And some get the sort of problems Doug got, falling
out of ketosis from a CCLL that dropped towards zero.

On 5/20/04 4:43 AM, in article
, "Doug Freyburger"
wrote:

Bob in CT wrote:
Doug Lerner wrote:
Diarmid Logan wrote:

By the end, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight,
between five and eight kilograms for the Atkins group and three and
eight kilos for the low fat group. But the Atkins dieters lost almost
all their weight in the first six months, then remained at a steady
weight.

Which is precisely the PROBLEM I had with Atkins. After six months I
entered a six month stall, and have only broken that stall by
switching to a low-calorie diet.

Did you increase your carbohydrate intake, as required by Atkins, during
this period? Did you find your critical carbohydrate level for losing?

He did not, and so he caused his own stall. He has since decided
against doing all of the work involved in repairing the metabolic
damage doing that caused and decided that caloric reduction is the
be-all and end-all of weight loss. But since caloric reduction is
working for him, good enough in his case. But the experience has
given him quite a bias on the topic.

What most people do is keep eating at 20-30 grams of carbs per day,
which is not what Atkins advocates.

Unfortunately while newbies need certainty Dr A is willing to discuss
alternatives to his core plan. Most dive face first into those
alternatives. And some get the sort of problems Doug got, falling
out of ketosis from a CCLL that dropped towards zero.


I'm afraid that Doug Freyburger is speaking incorrectly when he attempts to
summarize what I did and did not do on my diet.

According to the ketostix I recently bought, I was still in ketosis even at
the point I decided to switch to low-calorie. I just wasn't losing weight
any longer because I was eating too many calories.

doug

Doug Lerner wrote in message ...
On 5/20/04 4:43 AM, in article
, "Doug Freyburger"
wrote:

Bob in CT wrote:
Doug Lerner wrote:
Diarmid Logan wrote:

By the end, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight,
between five and eight kilograms for the Atkins group and three and
eight kilos for the low fat group. But the Atkins dieters lost almost
all their weight in the first six months, then remained at a steady
weight.

Which is precisely the PROBLEM I had with Atkins. After six months I
entered a six month stall, and have only broken that stall by
switching to a low-calorie diet.

Did you increase your carbohydrate intake, as required by Atkins, during
this period? Did you find your critical carbohydrate level for losing?

He did not, and so he caused his own stall. He has since decided
against doing all of the work involved in repairing the metabolic
damage doing that caused and decided that caloric reduction is the
be-all and end-all of weight loss. But since caloric reduction is
working for him, good enough in his case. But the experience has
given him quite a bias on the topic.

What most people do is keep eating at 20-30 grams of carbs per day,
which is not what Atkins advocates.

Unfortunately while newbies need certainty Dr A is willing to discuss
alternatives to his core plan. Most dive face first into those
alternatives. And some get the sort of problems Doug got, falling
out of ketosis from a CCLL that dropped towards zero.


I'm afraid that Doug Freyburger is speaking incorrectly when he attempts to
summarize what I did and did not do on my diet.

According to the ketostix I recently bought, I was still in ketosis even at
the point I decided to switch to low-calorie. I just wasn't losing weight
any longer because I was eating too many calories.

http://www.news-medical.net/view_article.asp?id=1690

News-Medical.net

Comparison study shows low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet loses more
weight than low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-calorie diet

Posted By: News-Medical in Medical Study News

Published: Wednesday, 19-May-2004

People who followed a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet lost more
weight than people on a low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-calorie diet
during a six-month comparison study at Duke University Medical Center.
However, the researchers caution that people with medical conditions
such as diabetes and high blood pressure should not start the diet
without close medical supervision.

"This diet can be quite powerful," said lead researcher Will Yancy,
M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at Duke University Medical
Center and a research associate at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center
in Durham, N.C. "We found that the low-carb diet was more effective
for weight loss," Yancy added. "The weight loss surprised me, to be
honest with you. We also found cholesterol levels seemed to improve
more on a low-carb diet compared to a low-fat diet."

The study is the first randomized, controlled trial of an Atkins-style
diet approach, which includes vitamin and nutritional supplements.
Along with losing an average of 26 pounds, dieters assigned to the
low-carbohydrate plan lost more body fat, and lowered their
triglyceride levels and raised their HDL, or good cholesterol, more
than the low-fat dieters. The low-fat dieters lost an average of 14
pounds. Though the low-fat diet group lowered their total cholesterol
more than the low-carb dieters, the latter group nearly halved their
triglycerides and their HDL jumped five points. The low-carbohydrate
group reported more adverse physical effects, such as constipation and
headaches, but fewer people dropped out of the low-carbohydrate diet
than the low-fat diet.

The results appear in the May 18, 2004, issue of the Annals of
Internal Medicine. The research was funded by an unrestricted grant
from the Robert C. Atkins Foundation. The study authors have no
financial interest in Atkins Nutritionals, Inc.

The study builds on earlier results by the Duke University Medical
Center researchers showing a low-carbohydrate diet can lead to weight
loss -- the first study of the low carbohydrate diet since 1980. Yancy
and co-investigator Eric Westman, M.D., are currently testing whether
a low-carbohydrate diet can help diabetics control their blood sugar
levels.

Despite the considerable weight loss experienced by the
low-carbohydrate dieters, Yancy does not recommend an Atkins-style
plan for patients attempting to lose weight for the first time.

"Over six months the diet appears relatively safe, but we need to
study the safety for longer durations," Yancy said. He also cautioned
that the diet could present certain health risks, such as elevations
in LDL cholesterol levels, bone loss, or kidney stones. This and other
recent studies of the low-carbohydrate diet have not demonstrated that
these health risks occur over short durations, but they might occur in
people on the diet for long-term. It is especially important that
people on diuretic or diabetes medications be monitored by a doctor
because the low-carbohydrate diet affects hydration and blood sugar
levels, Yancy said.

The 120 study participants were randomly assigned to either the
low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet or the low-fat, low-cholesterol,
low-calorie diet. All were between 18 and 65 years old and in
generally good health, with a body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 60,
indicating obesity, and a total cholesterol level of more than 200
mg/dL. None had tried dieting or weight loss pills in the previous six
months.

The low-carbohydrate group was permitted daily unlimited amounts of
animal foods (meat, fowl, fish and shellfish); unlimited eggs; 4 oz.
of hard cheese; two cups of salad vegetables such as lettuce, spinach
or celery; and one cup of low-carbohydrate vegetables such as
broccoli, cauliflower or squash. They also received daily nutritional
supplements recommended by Atkins -- a multivitamin, essential oils, a
diet formulation and chromium picolinate. There were no restrictions
on total calories, but carbohydrates were kept below 20 grams per day
at the start of the diet.

The low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-calorie group followed a diet
consisting of less than 30 percent of daily caloric intake from fat;
less than 10 percent of calories from saturated fat; and less than 300
milligrams of cholesterol daily. They were also advised to cut back on
calories. The recommended daily calorie level was 500 to 1,000
calories less than the participant's maintenance diet -- the calories
needed to maintain current weight.

Study participants were encouraged to exercise 30 minutes at least
three times per week, but no formal exercise program was provided.
Both sets of dieters had group meetings at an outpatient research
clinic regularly for six months.

Others members of the Duke research team were Maren Olsen, Ph.D.; John
Guyton, M.D.; Ronna Bakst, R.D.; and Eric Westman, M.D., who was
co-principal investigator for the study. The researchers maintained
exclusive control of all data and analyses.

http://www.dukemednews.org

"Doug Lerner" wrote in message ...
On 5/18/04 10:44 PM, in article
, "Diarmid Logan"
wrote:

By the end, both groups had lost about the same amount of weight,
between five and eight kilograms for the Atkins group and three and
eight kilos for the low fat group. But the Atkins dieters lost almost
all their weight in the first six months, then remained at a steady
weight.

Which is precisely the PROBLEM I had with Atkins. After six months I entered
a six month stall, and have only broken that stall by switching to a
low-calorie diet.

doug


So maybe that is the secret for losing weight.
Go on Atkins for 6 months then switch to a lower calorie diet.

But my question is what is the effect of each type of diet on a diabetic?

PJ