By Alison McCook

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters Health) - People who follow a low-carbohydrate,
high-protein diet for 6 months may lose more weight than those on a
standard low-fat diet, and they appear to experience no cardiovascular
problems as a result.
However, study author Dr. Bonnie J. Brehm of the University of Cincinnati
in Ohio told Reuters Health that despite the apparent short-term benefits
of the low-carbohydrate, high-protein (LCHP) diet, this option may not be
healthy in the long run.

Following the diet for 3 or 4 months may be fine, Brehm said. "But
long-term? We don't know," she added.

One example of a LCHP diet is the Atkins Diet, which first gained
popularity during the 1970s. Limited evidence suggests it may help people
lose weight, but many experts remain concerned about the long-term health
effects of the diet, which can contain high levels of fat and cholesterol.

The current study is based on results from 53 obese women, half of whom
were asked to follow the LCHP diet, in which less than 10% of their
calories came from carbohydrates. The rest of the women followed a standard
low-fat diet, in which fat made up only 30% of their total calories. Both
groups consumed the same number of calories each day.

After 6 months, Brehm and her colleagues found that women on the LCHP diet
lost 10 more pounds of body weight and 6 more pounds of body fat than did
those following the low-fat diet. Blood pressure and blood sugar
levels--which can indicate increased risk for cardiovascular disease--were
within normal ranges for both groups.

However, as the authors reported here on Sunday at the 85th Annual Meeting
of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), those on the LCHP diet ate less
carbohydrate and fiber and more protein, fat and cholesterol than did the
low-fat diet followers. The ADA is a professional organization representing
the nation's licensed nutritionists and dietitians.

So why did a seemingly unhealthy diet not affect indicators of
cardiovascular risk? In an interview with Reuters Health, Brehm suggested
that the benefits of losing more weight may offset the disadvantages
associated with high fat and cholesterol. "Perhaps it's weight loss that
causes the positive results (in cardiovascular risk factors)...and it isn't
dependent on the diet," she said.

Although the LCHP diet helped dieters shed more pounds than the low-fat
regimen, Brehm cautioned that much more research is needed before consumers
can consider this program to be safe and effective. "More research does
need to be done before I think you can make any kind of recommendation as
to what you should follow," she said.

The study was supported by funds from the American Heart Association (news
- web sites).
In an interview with Reuters Health, Dr. Meir Stampfer of Harvard
University said that the current study was well conducted, but he agreed
that 6 months is not long enough to determine if the LCHP diet is safe over
the long term.

However, he added that low-fat diets are often unsatisfying for dieters,
because many carbohydrates--a common source of low-fat foods--cause a rapid
rise and fall of blood sugar, leaving eaters hungrier sooner than after
eating protein and other foods with the same number of calories.

But the alternative does not have to be diets that are high in protein and
fats, he added. Rather, Stampfer said that he recommends that people follow
a reasonable diet, consisting of moderate levels of protein and fat.