Low carbohydrate diet is vindicated

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7400.1166-h

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Janice Hopkins Tanne

New York

For years authorities such as the American Heart Association and the US Department of Agriculture have recommended a high carbohydrate, low fat diet for cardiovascular health and weight loss, while Americans have grown ever fatter. Meanwhile Dr Robert Atkins' low carbohydrate “steak and eggs” diet books have sold 10 million copies and led to anecdotal reports of successful weight loss.

No prospective, randomised trials have shown the Atkins diet to be safe and effective—and it might actually be harmful, according to some doctors. But two studies published last week indicate that Dr Atkins, who died in April (17 May, p 1090), was right (New England Journal of Medicine 2003;348:2074-81 and 348:2082-90). …