'Eco-Atkins': Plant-based, Low-carb Diet May Promote Weight Loss ...

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ScienceDaily (June 9, 2009) Overweight individuals who ate a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet high in plant-based proteins for four weeks lost weight and experienced improvements in blood cholesterol levels and other heart disease risk factors, according to a report in the June 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine , one of the JAMA/Archives journals. A high-carbohydrate, low-fat vegetarian diet also resulted in weight loss but without the additional cardiovascular benefits.

"There is a dilemma relating to the proportion and source of fat, protein and carbohydrate that constitutes the optimal weight loss and cholesterol-lowering diet," the authors write as background information in the article. Newer dietary approaches for the prevention and treatment of chronic disease emphasize increased fruit and vegetable intake and reduced meat consumption.

However, low-carbohydrate diets with increased meat consumption have also been promoted for body weight reduction and the prevention and treatment of diabetes and coronary heart disease. These diets have been shown to be effective in inducing weight loss, reducing insulin resistance, lowering blood fats known as triglycerides and raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, or "good" cholesterol) levels, but have tended to increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, or "bad" cholesterol) levels. "This lack of a benefit for LDL-C control is a major disadvantage in using this dietary strategy in those already at increased risk of coronary heart disease," the authors write.

David J.A. Jenkins, M.D., of St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues tested the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet high in vegetable proteins from gluten, soy, nuts, fruits, vegetables, cereals and vegetable oils among overweight men and women with high LDL cholesterol levels. A total of 25 participants were randomly assigned to consume this diet-the "Eco-Atkins" diet-for four weeks, while an additional 25 participants ate a control diet that was high-carbohydrate, lacto-ovo vegetarian and based on low-fat dairy and whole grain products. Study food was provided to participants at 60 percent of their estimated calorie requirements.

Of the 47 participants who began the study, 44 (22 in each group) completed the four-week period. Weight loss was similar-about 4 kilograms or 8.8 pounds-in both groups. However, reductions in LDL-C levels and improvements in the ratios between total cholesterol and HDL-C were greater for the low-carbohydrate diet compared with the high-carbohydrate diet. The low-carbohydrate diet also appeared to produce beneficial changes in levels and ratios of apolipoproteins, proteins that bind to fats. In addition, small but significantly greater reductions were seen in both systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure for the low-carbohydrate vs. the high-carbohydrate group.

Pending answers to important questions, including whether further reducing carbohydrate intake would produce additional benefits, "a plant-based low-carbohydrate diet high in vegetable proteins and oils may be an effective option in treating those with dyslipidemia for whom both weight loss and lower LDL-C concentrations are treatment goals," the authors conclude.

This study was supported by Solae, LLC, Loblaw Companies Limited and the Canadian Research Chair Program of the Federal Government of Canada. Co-author Ms. Wong is a recipient of a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Doctoral Research Award.

Editorial: Additional Research Needed Before Recommending "Eco-Atkins" Diet

"High-protein, low-carbohydrate diets are advocated by many, predominantly commercial, weight loss programs," write Katherine R. Tuttle, M.D., and Joan E. Milton, M.S., R.D., C.D., of the Providence Medical Research Center at Sacred Heart Medical Center and the University of Washington School of Medicine, Spokane, Wash., in an accompanying editorial.

"Most of these diets have been promoted within popular culture and until recently have been subjected to little scientific scrutiny. Substantial concern has been raised about the potential for adverse effects. Meat is commonly consumed as a major source of dietary protein. However, meat derived from animal muscle also typically contains large amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol."

"The article by Jenkins et al provides insight into debatably more effective and possibly safer tactics for designing higher-protein diets for weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction. However, it is premature to recommend the 'Eco-Atkins' diet as a weight loss diet of choice without confirmation of its efficacy in larger studies of more diverse and higher-risk individuals. Long-term studies are also essential to ascertain both sustainability and safety."

Journal references:

David J. A. Jenkins; Julia M. W. Wong; Cyril W. C. Kendall; Amin Esfahani; Vivian W. Y. Ng; Tracy C. K. Leong; Dorothea A. Faulkner; Ed Vidgen; Kathryn A. Greaves; Gregory Paul; William Singer. The Effect of a Plant-Based Low-Carbohydrate ('Eco-Atkins') Diet on Body Weight and Blood Lipid Concentrations in Hyperlipidemic Subjects. Very Low-carbohydrate Diets Work For Men And Upper Body Fat (Nov. 15, 2004) Scientists say that low carbohydrate diets, like the Atkins and South Beach Diets, may actually be the best option for men who want to slim. New research, published this week in the Open Access ... Low Glycemic Index Diet Best For Weight Loss And Cardiovascular Health (July 26, 2006) The most effective diet for weight loss and cardiovascular health is a high carbohydrate plan based on low glycemic index (GI) foods, according to a study by University of Sydney ... Study Of Obese Diabetics Explains Why Low-carb Diets Produce Fast Results (Apr. 8, 2005) A new study by Temple University School of Medicine researchers has shown why the pounds melt so quickly on low-carbohydrate diets, and it's not related to water, metabolism or boredom. The ... New Weight Loss Diet Recommends High-carb And Protein Big Breakfast (June 23, 2008) Researchers have found a possible way to overcome the common problem of dieters eventually abandoning their diet and regaining the weight they lost. Eat a big breakfast packed with carbohydrates and ... (May 17, 2007) Overweight individuals who secrete insulin at a higher level may experience greater weight loss by selecting a low-glycemic load diet, compared to a low-fat diet, according to a new study. ... High Carb Diet Linked to Prostate Tumor Growth (Nov. 28, 2007) A diet high in refined carbohydrates, like white rice or white bread, is associated with increased prostate tumor growth in mice. Having too much insulin in the blood, a condition called ... Low Carbohydrate Diet Did Not Increase Bone Loss, Study Finds (May 24, 2006) A strict low-carbohydrate diet had no effect on bone loss for adults following an Adkins-type diet for weight loss, a study by rheumatologists at the University of South Florida found. The clinical ... Low-carb Diets Prove Better At Controlling Type 2 Diabetes (Jan. 8, 2009) In a six-month comparison of low-carb diets, one that encourages eating carbohydrates with the lowest-possible rating on the glycemic index leads to greater improvement in blood sugar control, ...

Additional information:

Diabetes Diet Support
Feline Diabetes
Diabetic Diet - Type 2 Diabetes Resource Center - EverydayHealth.com
Amazon.com: The Diabetes Diet : Dr. Bernstein's Low- Carbohydrate
A Healthy Diabetic Diet
Diabetic Diet - Learn more about diabetes weight loss and what it
Carbohydrate diet - Diabetes New Zealand
HowStuffWorks " Diabetes Diet - Medical Dictionary"
Carbohydrate Counting & the Diabetes Diet : Diabetes Diet
Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution. A Complete Guide to Achieving

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