Atkins Linked to Blood Vessel, Heart Damage

High-fat, low-carb regimen unhealthy over time, study says

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 7, 2007 6:36 AM CST

(Newser) – The Atkins diet can hurt blood vessels and swell inflammation linked to artery and heart disease over time, according to a study released yesterday. US scientists say the Atkins regimen can cause inflammation to spike by 30-40%, while low-fat diets like South Beach and Ornish kept it stable or lowered it "by as much as 15 to 20 percent," Reuters reports.

Most diets work in the short run, scientists said, so they looked at dieters after a month of weight loss. "When you lose weight everything looks good but after a while you plateau and you hit a maintenance stage," one said. That's when Atkins' negative numbers set in. Most studies show that high-vegetable, low-fat diets with grain are healthiest over time.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

The late Dr. Robert Atkins, inventor of the famous weight-loss plan that advocates eating little or no carbohydrates, and maintaining a diet high in protein such as eggs and meats. (KRT Photos)

Books extolling the virtues of the Atkins diet, now shown to damage blood vessels in the long run according to a recent study. (Getty Images)

Subsisting solely on big slabs of meat is damaging to your heart, oddly. (Shutterstock.com)

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Two worms share experiences on the Atkins diet in this satirical animation. (cjmacdonald1989 (YouTube))

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Atkins Linked to Blood Vessel, Heart Damage