14-4

D. J. A. JENKINS¹, C. W. Kendall, A. R. Josse, and L. R. Waltman. (1) Dept. of Nutritional Sciences, Univ. of Toronto, 150 College St., 340 FitzGerald Bldg., Toronto, ON M5S 3E2, Canada

The popular diets can be classified based on their macronutrient profiles into extremely low carbohydrate + high protein and fat (Atkins, Protein Power Plan), moderate carbohydrate + moderate fat (the Zone, South Beach, Montignac, GI Diet), and High carbohydrate + low fat (Ornish, Pritikin, High Carbohydrate High Fibre diet). They all promise weight loss, without compromising health, yet they are based on conflicting principles. Although many of them appear effective in the short term (< 6 months), their success in the long term, as well as their effect on cardiovascular disease, have yet to be established. A diet is considered ‘low carbohydrate' if < 10% of daily energy comes from carbohydrates. These diets deliver weight loss; however, based on disease prevention principles, diets high in saturated fat and cholesterol should have adverse effects. The appeal of these extremely low-carbohydrate diets lie in their ability to promote rapid weight loss during their initial stages. In the absence of disease outcome data, studies where groups of overweight subjects were randomized to Atkins, Ornish, The Zone and Weight Watchers diets over one year, suggested that weight loss was similar on all diets. It may be that the possible differences between diets relate to their different effects on CHD risk factors and that the macronutrient pattern of the weight loss regime will be specific to the individuals' needs (LDL-C, CRP, TG reduction, etc.). However, emphasis on low carbohydrate vegetables, already allowed in the Atkins diet, as well as legumes would result in a diet with “bioactive” ingredients (vegetable protein, unsaturated fats, plant sterols and fibre) and may allow many of the benefits of the higher carbohydrate diets to be captured.

Session 14, The complexity of carbohydrates!
2:30 PM - 5:30 PM, Sunday PM Room 394

2005 IFT Annual Meeting, July 15-20 - New Orleans, Louisiana