On 18 May 2004 06:44:59 -0700, [email hidden] (Diarmid Logan)
wrote:
Cross-posts to: sci.med.nutrition,alt.support.diet.low-
carb,alt.support.diabetes,misc.health.diabetes,sci.med.card-
iology retained for this post.
Quoted message said:Stern's year-long study (Annals of Internal Medicine, vol
140, p778) was twice the length of any previous study. Half
the patients followed the Atkins regime, limiting daily
carbohydrate intake to just 30 grams. The rest tried losing
weight through a conventional low-fat diet much richer in
carbohydrates.
Incorrect.
There is no doubt that the results were "good news for
Atkins dieters", as the author stated, but the study was
on general lower carb dieting, not specifically the
Atkins method.
One of the problems with reports like this is the way
meanings change with skewed repetition, in the news media
and on newsgroups.
The abstract of the original report from Stern is at :
annals.org778Open ↗
It is worth reading the original, instead of the media hype.
The only mention I can find in it of Atkins is :
"Although it has been speculated that a low-carbohydrate
diet would facilitate weight loss by promoting the
metabolism of adipose tissue
(13), our data suggest that weight loss differences may be
explained by lower caloric intake on a low-
carbohydrate diet".
The reference 13 is:
"13. Atkins RC. Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution. New York:
Avon Books; 1998."
The methodology is described as:
"Diet groups met in weekly counseling sessions for 4 weeks,
followed by 11 monthly sessions. Participants on the low-
carbohydrate diet were instructed only to reduce
carbohydrate intake to less than 30 g per day. Participants
on the conventional diet were instructed to reduce caloric
intake by 500 calories per day, with less than 30% of
calories derived from fat, in accordance with the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines (3)."
At no stage is it stated that they followed the Atkins diet,
although there may be obvious similarities. Unlike the
similar Atkins-funded study, no mention is made of
supplements or specialty foods.
I found the study interesting and I hope that it leads to
further research, particularly the implications for diabetic
health such as glycemic control and lipids improvements. But
I fear that the instant association with Atkins, rather than
the wider concept of lower carb eating, will lead to it
being disregarded by the medical establishment.
So let's stop instantly jumping to the conclusion, as the
news reporters did, that the diet studied was Atkins.
Cheers, Alan, T2 d&e, Australia. Remove weight and
carbs to email.
--
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
