Low-Carbohydrate Diets
Authors: Frederick F. Samaha, Linda Stern
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Letters2 November 2004Low-Carbohydrate DietsFrederick F. Samaha, MD and Linda Stern, MDFrederick F. Samaha, MDFrom Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104.Search for more papers by this author and Linda Stern, MDFrom Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-9-200411020-00023 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:We share Dr. Ornish's concerns that neither the conventional low-fat diet nor the low-carbohydrate diet in our study reduced total or LDL cholesterol levels. The scientific evidence that aggressive LDL cholesterol lowering reduces atherosclerosis and ischemic coronary events is strong, although complicated by concomitant beneficial effects on inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein. The evolving data regarding the long-term benefits of increasing HDL cholesterol levels and lowering triglyceride levels, at least by pharmacologic means, are also promising with regard to impact on coronary heart disease (1). Moreover, abnormal levels of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides are core features of ...References1. Rubins HB, Robins SJ, Collins D, Fye CL, Anderson JW, Elam MB, et al . Gemfibrozil for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in men with low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Veterans Affairs High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Intervention Trial Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1999;341:410-8. [PMID: 10438259] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Solymoss BC, Bourassa MG, Campeau L, Sniderman A, Marcil M, Lesperance J, et al . Effect of increasing metabolic syndrome score on atherosclerotic risk profile and coronary artery disease angiographic severity. Am J Cardiol. 2004;93:159-64. [PMID: 14715340] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Ornish D, Scherwitz LW, Billings JH, Brown SE, Gould KL, Merritt TA, et al . Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease. JAMA. 1998;280:2001-7. [PMID: 9863851] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. de Lorgeril M, Salen P, Martin JL, Monjaud I, Delaye J, Mamelle N. Mediterranean diet, traditional risk factors, and the rate of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction: final report of the Lyon Diet Heart Study. Circulation. 1999;99:779-85. [PMID: 9989963] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Frederick F. Samaha, MD; Linda Stern, MDAffiliations: From Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoA Low-Carbohydrate, Ketogenic Diet versus a Low-Fat Diet To Treat Obesity and Hyperlipidemia William S. Yancy Jr. , Maren K. Olsen , John R. Guyton , Ronna P. Bakst , and Eric C. Westman The Effects of Low-Carbohydrate versus Conventional Weight Loss Diets in Severely Obese Adults: One-Year Follow-up of a Randomized Trial Linda Stern , Nayyar Iqbal , Prakash Seshadri , Kathryn L. Chicano , Denise A. Daily , Joyce McGrory , Monica Williams , Edward J. Gracely , and Frederick F. Samaha Low-Carbohydrate Diets Dean Ornish Metrics 2 November 2004Volume 141, Issue 9Page: 738-739KeywordsAtherosclerosisCardiovascular disease riskCholesterolDietFatsHigh density lipoproteinLow density lipoproteinMetabolic syndromeStable coronary artery diseaseWeight loss ePublished: 2 November 2004 Issue Published: 2 November 2004 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2004 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...