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From: dave@cylixd.UUCP (Dave Kirby)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Need Advice on Limited-Carbohydrate Diet
Message-ID: <508@cylixd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Nov-85 17:47:58 EST
Article-I.D.: cylixd.508
Posted: Tue Nov 19 17:47:58 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 20-Nov-85 21:12:07 EST
Reply-To: dave@cylixd.UUCP (Dave Kirby)
Organization: RCA Cylix Communications , Memphis, TN
Lines: 51


Some of you may be familiar with the book "Dr. Atkins' Diet
Revolution." A few years ago I went on this diet for about 4 weeks;
I lost weight rapidly and felt great. But I left the diet because
it severely limited my choice of foods, and because I was experiencing
side-effects of irritability.

What is the current medical consensus on this diet? Caveats? Long
range side effects? 

In case you are not familiar with this diet, the theory is this. Most
people with weight problems, according to Dr. Atkins, have "functional
hypoglycemia." The symptoms of this condition are obesity, general
tiredness and weakness, and a tendency to be very sleepy after a meal
loaded with carbohydrates. The pancreas overreacts to the carbohydrates
and floods the body with insulin, thus making the individual sleepy.
Dr. Atkins' diet is a treatment of this condition.

First, one stops all intake of carbohydrates for a week. At most, he
limits himself to 2 grams a day. At the end of the week, he should
be in a state of ketosis, as measured by Ketostix (R). Dr. Atkins
says that the ketones in the urine represent partially burned calories,
which the body "sneaks" away without exercise. As long as one is in this
state of ketosis, he will lose weight. The body is breaking down fat
to produce the glucose and other carbohydrates needed. Thus we have
weight loss without exercise. On this diet the functionally hypoglycemic
will begin to feel more energy. Once one has entered ketosis, he
increases his daily carbohydrate intake week after week until his
urine no longer shows ketone content on the Ketostix (R). This is his
maintenance level of carbohydrate intake, which he should keep for life.
Some can have quite a lot of carbohydrates per day; others have
especially intolerant systems that must be limited to less than 5 grams
per day.

Is Dr. Atkins full of B. S.? Is his diet downright dangerous? Or is
it a safe and effective method of weight control?

I have a personal stake in this. A week ago I limited my carbohydrate
intake to 25 grams/day, and my acetoacetic acid level quickly shot up
to 50-60 mg/dL as measured by Ketostix (R). I began feeling irritable, 
so on the third day of this diet I adjusted my carbohydrate limit to 
about 100 grams/day, which is the level my physician suggested for
optimum weight loss at my last physical. In the last week I have
lost almost an inch around my waist and have gained new energy. But my
acetoacetic acid content has leveled out at 40 mg/dL (moderate ketosis).
I am concerned that this level of ketosis might be dangerous in the
long run.


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Dave Kirby    ( ...!ihnp4!akgub!cylixd!dave)