American Heart Association Statement on High-Protein,
Low-Carbohydrate Diet Study Presented at Scientific Sessions
Media Advisory
11/19/2002

http://www.americanheart.org/present...tifier=3006728

Chicago, Nov. 19 -- Media reports about a small study funded by the
Robert C. Atkins Foundation may have created the erroneous impression
that the American Heart Association has revised its dietary
guidelines. This is not the case. This study was released as one of
over 3,600 abstracts presented at the American Heart Association’s
annual Scientific Sessions, a forum for the presentation of research
pertaining to heart disease and stroke for scientists and physicians.
These scientific abstracts do not represent official positions or
statements of the American Heart Association.

Here are the American Heart Association’s concerns with the study:

The study is very small, with only 120 total participants and just 60
on the high-fat, low carbohydrate diet.
This is a short-term study, following participants for just 6 months.
There is no evidence provided by this study that the weight loss
produced could be maintained long term.
There is no evidence provided by the study that the diet is effective
long term in improving health.
A high intake of saturated fats over time raises great concern about
increased cardiovascular risk – the study did not follow participants
long enough to evaluate this.
This study did not actually compare the Atkins diet with the current
AHA dietary recommendations.
“The American Heart Association has dietary guidelines, rather than a
rigid diet. These guidelines, revised in 2000, replaced the Step I
and Step II diet, which emphasized fat restriction. The current
guidelines, based on the best available evidence, emphasize a healthy
dietary pattern rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats,
fish and poultry, as well as low-fat dairy products,” says Robert O.
Bonow, M.D., the president of the American Heart Association. “It is
important to note that there is no single ‘American Heart Association
Diet.’ Rather there is a set of guidelines designed to be broad
enough to accommodate many different food preferences, as well as to
provide specific guidance for individuals with specific conditions.”

By way of contrast with this small study, a 12-year Harvard study
funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute was also
reported at this meeting. This study of 74,000 women showed that
those who consumed more fruits and vegetables were 26 percent less
likely to become obese than women who ate fewer fruits and vegetables
over the same time period. “This is a much more compelling study
regarding weight control, because it involved many more individuals
over a much longer period,” says Bonow.

“Bottom line, the American Heart Association says that people who
want to lose weight and keep it off need to make lifestyle changes
for the long term – this means regular exercise and a balanced diet,”
he says. “People should not change their eating patterns based on
one very small, short-term study. Instead, we hope that the public
will continue to rely on the guidance of organizations such as the
American Heart Association which look at all the very best evidence
before formulating recommendations.”