Posted on: Tuesday, October 9, 2001

Warning issued on diets high in protein

By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Staff Writer

In a rare action, the American Heart Association is cautioning against high-protein diets, saying they offer no proven effectiveness for long-term weight loss and may pose health threats for those who try them for more than the short term.

In an advisory published in yesterday's "Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association," the AHA's Nutrition Committee specifically targeted "quick weight loss" regimens such as the Atkins, Zone, Protein Power, Sugar Busters and Stillman diets.

"High-protein items may also be high in fat," said Dr. Robert H. Eckel, a co-author of the advisory and immediate past chair of the Nutrition Committee. "Some of the diets increase fat intake and reduce nutritionally rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, which is not a good approach to meeting a person's long-term dietary needs."

Eckel said that eating large amounts of high-fat animal foods over a sustained period has been shown to increase the risk of coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer. As well, a diet rich in animal protein, saturated fat and cholesterol raises LDL levels (the harmful cholesterol). That effect is compounded, he said, when high-carbohydrate, high-fiber plant foods that help lower cholesterol are limited or eliminated.

He does not dispute that the protein-rich diets create an initial weight loss. But he said that this may be merely water loss.

Eckel said that many of these diets also fail to provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and other elements.

"A very high-protein diet is especially risky for patients with diabetes," said the advisory, "because it can speed the progression ... of diabetic renal disease."

The advisory notes that lasting weight loss happens when people follow a nutritionally balanced diet and increase their physical activity.

Hawai'i obesity specialist Dr. Stephen Bradley, who works with the Integrative Medicine Center based in Wai'anae and Nanakuli, agrees that a sustained "lifestyle change" is the best approach to long-range, permanent weight loss.

Bradley cautions especially against the effect of high protein on the kidneys. "The reason people lose weight in eating just proteins is the calorie load is less than usual," he said. "But the overload on the kidneys is risky for diabetes. The excess protein has to go somewhere and where it goes is through the kidneys. If the kidneys are already under stress it may do harm."

But Bradley draws some distinction between the various protein diet programs. The Zone includes healthy fats (polyunsaturated oils) and complex carbohydrates, he said, even though it recommends about 34 percent of daily calories from protein. The Heart Association suggests 15-20 percent.