IV. CLINICAL STUDIES OF DIETS
A. The Atkins-Type Diet
An Atkins-type diet that prescribes a low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat intake has been popular in the United States during the past decade. Despite the knowl¬edge that high fat intake increases plasma LDL cholesterol levels and that this carries a high risk for the development of plaques of atheroma in vital arteries, this diet has been allowed to be promoted for more than 20 years. In addition, the efficacy of this type of diet had not been tested, in randomized controlled trials until recently and the trial was short-term not more than 12 months.
1. Foster et al.
This group conducted a randomized clinical trial compar¬ing an Atkins-type diet versus what they deemed a conventional weight reduction diet: ‘‘a low calorie, high carbohydrate, low fat diet.’’ Unfortunately, the authors of the study state that ‘‘the conventional dietary approach to weight management recommended by leading research and medical societies is a high-carbohydrate, low-fat, energy deficit diet.’’ Leading researchers and medical societies have not advocated a high-carbohydrate intake as being part of a conventional weight-reduction program. Thus, the authors’ comparative diet flaws the study. Nonetheless, the small study provides some messages.