extreme carb-restriction is safe and effective way to lose weight

[Guest guest]

Here is Reuters coverage of the new study. Note the following passage:

" Ketosis is a benign byproduct of fat burning, " Heimowitz asserted. " With an

adequate protein and fat intake, there is no loss of muscle mass... "

-gts

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NEW YORK, Feb 18 (Reuters Health) -- The extremely carbohydrate-restricted

Atkins diet is a safe, effective way to lose weight, according to studies

presented at the Southern Society of General Internal Medicine in New

Orleans.

A study of the diet conducted at the Durham VA Medical Center in North

Carolina showed that on average, mildly obese people lost about 21 pounds in

four months on the diet, and had positive changes in heart risk factors such

as reduced cholesterol and increased HDL or " good cholesterol. " These

results are supported by a second study from researchers at the Atkins

Center for Complementary Medicine in New York.

The Durham study included 41 mildly obese, healthy people who attended an

outpatient clinic. The study participants followed a program that reduced

carbohydrate intake to less than 20 grams per day, and included vitamin

supplements, fish oil supplements and 20 minutes of exercise at least three

times per week.

Over four months on the diet, the participants lost an average of 21.3

pounds, and showed a 6.1% drop in cholesterol, and almost a 40% drop in the

level of triglycerides in their blood. In addition, their HDL levels

increased by about 7%. In a press release, the researchers also say that

their study did not find any of the safety concerns voiced by the American

Dietetic Association, such as potentially dangerous effects on liver and

kidney function.

" In four short months on the Atkins Diet, we were able to confirm

scientifically what Dr. Atkins states he has seen in his practice over the

past decades. The diet lowers cholesterol and triglycerides and raises

HDL... which may represent an entirely new approach to the control and

prevention of heart disease, " said lead researcher Dr. C. Westman,

assistant professor of medicine at North Carolina's Duke University.

The study is continuing in order to assess the long-term effects of the

diet.

Reporting the results of the second study, Colette Heimowitz, director of

nutrition at the Atkins Center in New York, said that it was based on 319

overweight or obese patients treated at the Center for at least a year.

Investigators collected information on weight, blood pressure, cholesterol,

kidney and liver function and other parameters during the study.

" What we found is what we already knew from anecdotal data, " Heimowitz told

Reuters Health in an interview after the meeting on Friday. " There were some

pretty impressive benefits in body composition, HDL levels went up, LDL

levels went down and blood pressure decreased, " she reported. Where HDL is

the good cholesterol for its association with reduced heart risk, LDL has

earned the name of being the " bad " cholesterol because high levels are

associated with heart disease.

" We now have data for the scientific community " on the healthful benefits of

the Atkins diet, Heimowitz asserted.

The Atkins diet severely restricts carbohydrate intake to induce a state of

ketosis, or metabolic starvation. Dieters are encouraged to measure urinary

ketone excretion as an indication of how effective the diet is in inducing

fat breakdown. " Ketosis is a benign byproduct of fat burning, " Heimowitz

asserted. " With an adequate protein and fat intake, there is no loss of

muscle mass...There is no change in (blood) pH if the diet is properly

done, " she said.

However the diet is not for everyone, Heimowitz warned. " It's for those who

need a correction in their sugar and carbohydrate metabolism...We encourage

(vitamin) supplementation and an intake of 'good' fats, such as fish oil, "

Heimowitz commented.

-gts