[PHNUTR-L] High fat-low carb diet reduces heart's energy stores

[Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD]

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High fat-low carb diet reduces heart's energy stores
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=63895&m=1fnen15&c=xeiqgoegavfxtla

15/11/2005- High fat-low carb diets, such as the once-trendy Atkins 
diet, appear to negatively impact the heart’s energy stores, shows new 
research presented in the US this week.

While many nutritionists have attacked the Atkin’s weight loss regime 
for its high fat content, putting dieters at risk of clogged arteries 
and heart attack in the long-term, the small study carried out at the 
University of Oxford is one of the first to demonstrate a direct effect 
on the heart after following the diet for a short period.

The results, presented at the American Heart Association conference in 
Dallas on Sunday, found that after restricting carbohydrate intake to 
just 20g per day, and instead consuming much more fat and protein, the 
energy stores in the hearts of 19 participants were reduced by an 
average of 16 per cent.

Such a reduction does not have direct implications for health, however 
one of the participants did notice a difference when running, said lead 
author Professor Kieran Clarke: "He couldn’t manage his daily run while 
on the diet."

"The heart requires energy for contractions," explained another of the 
authors, Dr Damien Tyler, "although here we were measuring energy stores 
rather than energy used."

He added: "You do see similar patterns in a more severe form in patients 
with heart failure, and type 2 diabetics also suffer from lower energy 
stores. But the implication of these findings on health in the long-term 
are difficult to define."

Yet the new work clearly demonstrates that the heart is directly 
affected by the Atkin's diet and could therefore be susceptible to other 
unbalanced regimes.

"There's some prior evidence that increasing levels of circulating fatty 
acids in the bloodstream can affect the heart," Dr Tyler told 
NutraIngredients.com.

"This study gives us the basis for further investigating the effects of 
these diets."
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
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