Low-carbo diets increase death risk
While useful in the short-term, adherence to it for a long period of time is unsafe
NEW European research cautions against following a low carbohydrate diet, describing them as unsafe. Carried out by researchers at the Medical University of Lodz, Poland, the new large-scale study set out to investigate the relationship between low carbohydrate diets, all-cause death and deaths from coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease (including stroke), and cancer.
The researchers gathered data from a nationally representative sample of 24,825 participants with an average age of 47.6 years who had taken part in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2010.
Over the course of the study, they found that those who consumed the lowest amount of carbohydrates had a 32 per cent higher risk of death from all causes when compared to those who ate the most carbs.
In addition, risk of death from coronary heart disease was increased by 51 per cent, the risk of death from cerebrovascular disease by 50 per cent, and the risk of death from cancer by 35 per cent.
The results also remained significant even after the team had taken into account other potentially influencing factors.
The findings were also confirmed in a further analysis which looked at seven studies with a total of 447,506 participants. After an average follow-up of 15.6 years, those who followed a low-carb diet showed a 15 per cent increased risk of death, a 13 per cent higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and an eight per cent higher risk of death from cancer than those who followed a high-carb diet.
Study author Professor Maciej Banach commented on the findings saying: "Low carbohydrate diets might be useful in the short term to lose weight, lower blood pressure and improve blood glucose control, but our study suggests that in the longterm they are linked with an increased risk of death from any cause, and deaths due to cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer."
"The reduced intake of fibre and fruits and increased intake of animal protein, cholesterol and saturated fat with these diets may play a role. Differences in minerals, vitamins and phytochemicals might also be involved," he added.
"The findings suggest that low carbohydrate diets are unsafe and should not be recommended."
A diet low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fat has previously been suggested as an effective way of losing weight, however the long-term safety of these diets has been subject to controversy, with previous studies producing conflicting results as to their influence on the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and death.
AFP Relaxnews