Low-Carb Diet Promotes Metabolic Health

Although the hype seems to have cooled in the last year or so, Atkins-type diets that are low in carbohydrates and high in fats and proteins remain popular with people seeking to lose weight. Some medical authorities are wary of the low-carb approach because the diet runs counter to traditional wisdom that a weight-reduction diet should limit fats and energy-dense foods.

But a head-to-head comparison reveals that the low-carb diet produced greater metabolic effects in overweight premenopausal women than other popular diets, according to a report published in the March 7 issue of JAMA.

The A TO Z (Atkins, Traditional, Ornish, Zone) Weight Loss Study included 311 overweight or obese premenopausal women, none of whom had diabetes. Women were randomized to follow one of four diet schemes. The Atkins group was advised to consume ≤20 g of carbohydrates for the first 2–3 months, then 50 g per day. Participants on the Zone diet were instructed to follow a diet consisting of about 40% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 30% protein. Those in the traditional lifestyles, exercise, attitudes, relationships, and nutrition (LEARN) diet group were told to follow a prudent diet that included 55–60% of energy from carbohydrates and <10% from saturated fat. The Ornish diet mainly focused on keeping energy derived from fat <10%.

Participants were also counseled on the importance of physical activity and other healthful lifestyle choices.

After 12 months, participants following the Atkins-type diet had significantly greater weight loss than those adhering to the other diets. Secondary outcomes, such as lipid profile, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and insulin levels, “were comparable with or more favorable than the other diet groups,” according to investigators.

Questions remain about the long-term effects of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, high-protein diet. But the A TO Z study indicates that an Atkins-type diet “may be considered a feasible alternative recommendation for weight loss,” researchers conclude.

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