TUESDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- Women who regularly eat a
high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet may be raising their risk of
heart disease and stroke by as much as 28 percent, a new study
suggests. Although the absolute increase in risk is small --
four or five extra cases per 10,000 women -- many young women
try the Atkins diet or similar regimens and could be setting
themselves up for cardiovascular problems later in life, the
researchers noted. "Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets are
frequently used for body-weight control," said lead researcher
Dr. Pagona Lagiou, assistant professor of epidemiology at the
University of Athens Medical School in Greece. "Although [the
diets] may be nutritionally acceptable if the protein is mainly
of plant origin, such as nuts, and the reduction of
carbohydrates applies mainly to simple and refined
[carbohydrates] like unhealthy sweeteners, drinks and snacks,
the general public does not always recognize and act on this
guidance." The study, published online June 26 in