Atkins Meta-Analysis of Low Carb vs. Low fat diet

Sackner-Bernstein article 2015

"In conclusion, this trial-level meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials shows that both LoCHO and LoFAT diets are effective in reducing weight. 
However, LoCHO diet appears to achieve greater weight loss and reduction in predicted risk of ASCVD events compared with LoFAT diet. 
On the basis of these results, we suggest that dietary recommendations for weight loss should be revisited to consider this additional evidence of the benefits of LoCHO diets." from original article above

Larry Husten News Article about trial
excerpts below:


"The study, published in PLoS ONE, was funded by Atkins Nutritionals. A unique feature of the paper is that it contains both a classical frequentist and a Bayesian meta-analysis."

"Seven trials showed a significant weight reduction in the low-carb group, but no trials found a significant benefit for the low-fat diets."

"The low-fat group had a larger beneficial effect on LDL cholesterol, while the low-carb group had a better effect on HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure:

• LDL fell by 1.8 mg/dL with low-carb versus 10.9 mg/dL with low-fat
• HDL rose by 4.4 mg/dL on low-carb but fell 1 mg/dL with low-fat
• Triglycerides declined 41.1 mg/dL with low-carb versus 11.3 mg/dL with low fat
• Systolic blood pressure dropped 6.7 mm Hg versus 4.4 mm Hg"

"Both diets were associated with significant reductions in the 10-year cardiovascular risk score, but the reduction in risk was significantly greater in the low-carb group."

"He (a physician) also questioned the role of Atkins in the study. In the paper, the authors state that the company "had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript."