Diet Plans Produce Similar Results (HealthDay)

WEDNESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- New research shows thatMediterranean and low-carb diets are just as good and just as safe as thelow-fat diet often prescribed by doctors, a revelation that should givepeople more choices in eating well.

"We can't rely on 'one diet fits all,' " said Iris Shai, anepidemiology researcher at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev inBeer-Sheva, Israel. "This suggests several diet strategies, and that weshould be tailoring them."

Shai completed the study, which was published in the July 17 issue ofthe New England Journal of Medicine, while a Fulbright fellow atthe Harvard School of Public Health and Channing Laboratory in Boston.

For this trial, 322 "moderately obese" men and women (but mostly men)were randomized to one of three diets: low-fat, restricted calorie;Mediterranean, restricted calorie; or low-carb,non-restricted-calorie.

The Mediterranean diet had the most amounts of dietary fiber and alsoincluded lots of fruits and vegetables. All three regimens had similarcalorie counts.

Over the next two years, an astounding 84.6 percent of participantsstayed on their diets.

Mean weight loss for the low-fat group was 2.9 kilograms (4.8 pounds),4.4 kg (9.7 pounds) for the Mediterranean group and 4.7 kg (10.3 pounds)for the low-carb group.

For the 272 participants who stayed on their diets, the mean weightloss was 3.3 kg (7.3 pounds), 4.6 kg (10.1 pounds) and 5.5 kg (12.1pounds), respectively.

The low-carb regimen reduced the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL"good" cholesterol by 20 percent, while the low-fat one lowered the ratioby 12 percent.

The best change in lipids was seen in the low-carb group, with a 20percent increase in HDL cholesterol and a 14 percent decrease intriglycerides.

The Mediterranean diet produced the most favorable changes in bloodglucose and insulin levels among the 36 participants with diabetes. Inthis group of patients, the low-fat diet increased fasting glucoselevels.

According to the study authors, a low-carbohydrate,non-restricted-calorie diet may be optimal for those who will not follow arestricted-calorie dietary regimen. The increasing improvement in levelsof some biomarkers up to the 24-month point, despite the achievement ofmaximum weight loss by six months, suggests that a diet with a healthfulcomposition has benefits beyond weight reduction.

"The three diet strategies were beneficial for two years for all thebiomarkers, but some of them were more specifically better than others,"Shai said. "The good news is that you can consider and choose onestrategy, but, once you choose one, you should stick with it."

"You have to look at each individual," added Lisa Harper Mallonee, aregistered dietitian and an assistant professor of dental hygiene at theTexas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry. "Practicemoderation and creating individual, healthy diets."

More information

The American Heart Association has more on the .