High fat, no-starch diet doesn't raise cholesterol


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 17 - In a study of patients with atherosclerosis following a high fat, no-starch diet, similar to the Atkins diet, for 6 weeks produced weight loss without adversely affecting lipid levels.

The study, which is reported in the November issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, involved 23 obese patients with documented atherosclerotic heart disease. All of the patients were treated with statins, but no drug or dose changes were made during the study.

During the 6-week trial, the subjects were instructed to consume half of their calories as saturated fat. Other food sources were permitted with the exception of starches.

The test diet was associated with a significant 5.2% drop in both total body weight and in body fat percentage, lead author Dr. James H. Hays and colleagues, from Christiana Care Health Services in Newark, Delaware, note.

No changes in LDL or HDL cholesterol levels were observed with the diet, but both HDL and LDL size did increase, the authors note. Moreover, the diet was tied to a significant reduction in total triglyceride levels and various VLDL levels.

The test diet also appeared safe in patients with certain obesity-related conditions. In studies involving patients with polycystic ovary syndrome or reactive hypoglycemia and up to 52 weeks of follow-up, the authors found that the diet produced significant weight loss without an adverse effect on serum lipids.

A high saturated fat, no starch diet "results in weight loss after 6 weeks without adverse effects on serum lipid levels...and further weight loss with a lipid-neutral effect may persist for up to 52 weeks," the investigators note.

"I recommend that we keep an open mind regarding the role of the Atkins diet and continue to study its metabolic effects," Dr. Gerald T. Gau, from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, comments in a related editorial. At the same time, however, "we should continue to examine the risk-benefit profiles of caloric-restricted, more rational diets," he adds.

Mayo Clin Proc 2003;78:1331-1336.


http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/464575

link to original study report .. this is a pdf file, requires Acrobat Reader.

Just to note ... current Food Pyramid and AHA recommendations are that no more than 10% of calories should come from saturated fat, with no more than 30% calories from all fats combined.

In this study, 50% of calories was from specifically saturated fat. From the actual study (link is in above post)

* HSF-SA diet = high saturated fat - starch avoidance


Doreen

It's now believed that the larger LDL particles are actually beneficial to heart and blood vessel health. Adding monounsaturated fat sources to the higher saturated fat intake could help to improve HDL levels.
VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) is believed to be a greater indicator of heart disease risk than total LDL alone.


Doreen

"more rational diets" my size ten tush!

50% Saturated Fat ? That's impossible unless they were feeding them Gallons of Heavy Cream. Even the fattiest cuts of Beef (Chuck Blade & Prime Rib) are 27-31% Saturated Fat [by Calories.] Even if you assumed all unaccounted for fat was Saturated, a Prime Rib would be 40% Saturated Fat. To reach 50%, you'd have to consume either alot of Dairy or Coconut Oil. Since the LDL Sizes increased, I'm guessing Dairy. The Leanest [natural] cuts of Beef (Top Round) are only 14.5% Saturated Fat [by Calories.] Even if they were consuming nothing but Prime Rib, they would not reach 50% SFA...without supplementing with Dairy/Coconut Oil...It would take even more Dairy/Coconut Oil if they were buying the cheaper [leaner] Round Cuts of Beef.

I agree and I'll throw in "my 5 sizes smaller tush!" even though it's not a size 10 yet (and won't likely ever be!).

Be all that, as it may ... nonetheless, the study should serve to silence the naysayers who would have us believe that a steak and cheese diet will surely clog our arteries and lead to certain heart attack death.

You bring up a good point though, that animal fats are rarely pure saturated fats. I think butter is highest, at 80% saturates. Beef fat and chicken fat are both over 40% monounsaturated.


Doreen