High Saturated Fat, Starch Avoidance Weight Loss Diet
Offers Good Preliminary Results Mayo Clinic Proceedings Study
Indicates Further Research Needed With More Patients
ROCHESTER, Minn. In the quest for an
effective weight loss diet that also is nutritionally
complete, researchers in the November issue of Mayo Clinic
Proceedings report preliminary weight loss results of a
regimen that is similar to the Atkins diet that are
encouraging, but merit further, broader study. Researchers
from Cardiology Research at Christiana Care Health
Services, Inc., in Newark, Del., report patients on a high
saturated fat and avoidance of starch diet similar to the
Atkins diet experienced 5 percent weight loss after six
weeks without adverse effects.
The Atkins diet is noted for its high-fat and
carbohydrate restrictions, which have been shown to result
in weight loss. James Hays, M.D., of the Christiana Care
Health Services, Inc. the primary investigator, said the
study came about after researchers noted that patients with
atherosclerosis or diabetes were also experiencing weight
loss with a diet they were prescribing for treatment of the
chronic disease.
For the last eight years, we have been concentrating on
dietary treatment of the chronic diseases diabetes and
atherosclerosis and have ended up prescribing to patients a diet
high in saturated fat much like what Dr. Atkins has advocated
for weight loss, Dr. Hays says. A consistent calorie intake is
helpful in treatment of diabetes, so we have prescribed a
consistent intake of certain fruits and vegetables rather than
Dr. Atkins step-wise approach and this may have resulted in
some other differences.
Atkins Diet Warrants Further Research
Although further studies remain to be done, it might be
possible to find an optimum diet that results in weight loss,
promotes longevity and contains a lot of saturated fat, Dr. Hays
said. The Atkins diet relies on ketosis, the decrease in
appetite related to the caloric intake. However no long-term
studies have determined whether there is a risk of
cardiovascular disease.
Others who contributed to the study include Angela DiSabatino;
Robert Gorman, Ph.D.; Simi Vincent, Ph.D., M.D.; and Michael
Stillabower, M.D., all of Christiana Care Health Services.
The observational study looked at 17 men and six women who
self-reported food intake and each lost 5 percent of their body
weight in six weeks, Dr. Hays said. The diet prescribed for
patients by the physicians was to consume one half of all
calories as saturated fat, primarily as red meat and cheese.
Eggs and other low-fat forms of protein were allowed, regardless
of cholesterol content. Fresh fruit and non-starchy vegetables
were prescribed in restricted amounts at each meal. Starch was
forbidden.
In an editorial in the same issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings,
Gerald Gau, M.D., of Mayo Clinics Division of Cardiovascular
Diseases and Internal Medicine, writes that researchers should
keep an open mind about the Atkins diet and continue to study
its metabolic effects.
With this published study, Dr. Gau notes that long-term
follow-up and larger numbers of patients are needed for more
definitive information. Dr. Gau writes that other diets that
restrict calories should also be studied for their risks and
benefits.
