Study shows that low-carb diets may help reduce heart risk factors

Yet another study shows that the lipophobes were wrong -- that low-carb dieting isn't bad for your heart:

Low carb diets may have edge in some heart risk factors

The fascination with low-carb versus low-fat diet continues; the latest news comes from a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine released today that found that people on both diets lost about the same amount of weight over two years. However, the low-carb group had an edge in raising HDL (good) cholesterol and lowering diastolic blood pressure

The study looked at 153 people who were randomly assigned to a low-carb diet, and 154 to a low-fat diet. The low-carb group limited carbohydrate intake to 20 grams per day for the first 12 weeks, then gradually increased fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy foods until they reached a desired weight. The low-fat group kept daily calories to 1,200 to 1,500, and fat to 30% of their diet.

Source: LA Times

Study disputes low-carb diet concerns

Two groups of obese dieters - one following a low-fat regimen and the other low-carb - lost identical amounts of weight after two years in a study that included comprehensive behavioral help, researchers reported Monday.

The low-carb diet raised levels of HDL "good" cholesterol far more, but there was little difference on most other measures and no significant side effects, said lead author Gary D. Foster of Temple University.

Both groups lost weight for the first six months and then started regaining, as is typical on most diets. The 307 participants ended the two years about 15 pounds below where they started.

The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, is the latest to determine that concerns raised several years ago that low-carbohydrate diets would cause health problems were unfounded.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

That's the result I experienced: lower blood pressure, and better HDL levels.