Tuesday 28 October 2014 10:44am
Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research (EDOR) Centre members and their University of Otago colleagues have cautioned against low carbohydrate high fat (LCHF) diets in the latest issue of The Lancet, a leading world medical journal.
Professor Jim Mann, Dr Lisa Te Morenga, Dr Rachael McLean and Professor Murray Skeaff state that several short-term studies and recent media attention has attracted public interest in LCHF diets for weight reduction and improvement in biomarkers for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, these diets are typically high in saturated fat and in countries such as Sweden where LCHF diets are more prevalent, there has been a rise in population blood cholesterol levels. High blood cholesterol is an important risk factor for coronary heart disease.
The researchers conclude that a large body of evidence “confirms the established cornerstones of dietary advice—reduce saturated fat, free sugars, and sodium and increase wholegrain cereals and fibre".
Read a copy of the article submitted to The Lancet:
Low carb diets, going against the grain (pdf, 85KB)
Read the news stories:
- Fad diets not the answer to good health (25 October 2014, TVNZ website)
- No obesity help from 'fad' diets (27 October 2014, Otago Daily Times website)
- Fat is a battlefield (31 October 2014, Stuff website)
