Despite positive results of one study, the safety of the low carb diet has again been drawn into the forefront once again. A study published in the clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology concluded that the typical low carb diet, including Atkins and South Beach did not raise the risk of kidney damage in otherwise healthy people. But, kidney damage is not the only potential risk factor for people who are following low carb diets. A new, multi year study based in Sweden has revealed that the potential for cardiovascular disease is greatly higher for those who are following a low carb diet than those who are not. That same study also shoots down the working theory that it is the most effective route for weight loss as well.
The twenty five year study, part of the Vasterbotten Intervention Programme or VIP was published in the Nutrition Journal. Started in 1985, the VIP was meant to help Sweden to institute better food labeling laws and guidelines, clearer nutritional information and more comprehensive health exams and counseling. The program was also meant to include things such as cooking demonstrations and other health boosting activities. The program focused much of its attention on the North Sweden area because people there, specifically men, had higher rates of heart disease.
During the first few years of the VIP study, ran by two universities and the National Board of Welfare, researchers noted that fat intake for both men and women went down and that heart disease numbers decreased as well. By 1992, fat intake for men had gone down by three percent. Women's fat intake was slightly lower, at four percent. That intake remained stable, according to research leader, Ingegard Johansson, PhD until 2005. At that time, low carb dieting became the norm with more and more people turning to Atkins diet plans and others to try to lose weight. At that time, researchers found that cholesterol levels were increasing, going back to the levels before the beginning of the study.
In addition to increasing cholesterol levels, the low carb dieters started eating fewer and fewer complex carbohydrates. Women in the study were also drinking more wine according to researchers. Despite some short term weight loss at the beginning of these diet plans, researchers found that they failed in terms of longer term weight loss overall. Body mass index numbers, cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risks all continued to increase for these dieters.
No comments:
Post a Comment