HHS HealthBeat (May 08, 2008)

Diet debate

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Low-fat or low-carb – which diet is better?  A study finds low-fat diets promote better heart health than low-carb diets.

Researchers say low-carb diets are higher in fats and increase the risk of heart disease and atherosclerosis, which is when the arteries harden.

Researchers looked at a major artery of the arm, seeking signs of changes in blood flow that can indicate heart disease.  People on low-carb diets were more likely to have changes that could mean trouble.

Lead author David Gutterman at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee sees low-fat diets as potentially better for your heart.

“It would be important for most people to derive further benefit by reducing the likelihood of cardiovascular events and disease by going on these diets.”  (9 seconds)

The study in the journal Hypertension was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: May, 08 2008