Study may determine if Atkins diet is safe
Wednesday, January 19, 2005 7:44 AM PST
By Eric Apalategui
Printable version
E-mail this articleLocal residents can help determine whether the low-carb Atkins diet rage is as safe as the old low-fat standby.
Researchers from Kaiser Permanente and Oregon Health & Science University will enlist 240 volunteers to help them conduct one of the first long-term studies comparing the two diet strategies.
Short-term studies have shown both approaches can lead to weight loss, but longer studies have not been done on diets that are low in carbohydrates to see whether followers maintain healthy weights or suffer increased health problems, researchers said.
A branch of the federal National Institutes of Health awarded a grant of nearly $2.3 million to Kaiser's Center for Health Research to lead the study with collaboration from OHSU researchers. Kaiser is contributing $100,000 to the study.
The study will divide the volunteers into two randomly assigned groups to follow either the Atkins regimen or a low-fat, high-carbohydrate "DASH" plan for 30 months.
Researchers will select study subjects who are willing to attend appointments at the research center in Portland and meet certain other criteria, including being at least 21 years old, be overweight or obese and meet several other criteria.
The low-carb diets popular in recent years typically are high in protein and fat, with fewer grains, fruits, potatoes and other carbohydrate-rich foods. Supporters say that approach promotes weight loss and leads to better overall health than conventional high-carb menus, but critics fear such diets will boost the rates of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
"At this point, there are no valid scientific data either to support or refute claims on both sides of the debate," says Njeri Karanja, Kaiser's principal investigator for the study. "What we find will help clinicians and nutritionists give evidence-based advice to patients and help the general public make informed choices."
People interested in joining the study should call (503) 528-3917 or send an e-mail to insight@kpchr.org.
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