High Protein, Low Carb Diets Increase Cardiovascular Risk

Low carbohydrate-high protein diets, when used on a regular basis, are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, researchers wrote, which should be considered despite the diet’s short term benefits to weight loss. 

The diets are especially harmful when used without the consideration of complex versus refined carbohydrates, as well as the source of proteins (plant or animal). 

Researchers analyzed data from 43,396 women, ages 30- to 49-years-old, in the Swedish Women’s Lifestyle and Health Cohort, scoring each participant from very high (1) to very low (10) in carbohydrate intake and very low (1) to very high (10) for protein intake. 

During 15.7 years of follow up, 1,270 incident cardiovascular events were reported, including ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and peripheral arterial disease. 

After adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors, researchers found that each 1-point decrease in carbohydrate intake, as well as each 1-point increase in protein intake, was associated with 4% increase in cardiovascular events. 

“Our results do not answer questions concerning possible beneficial short-term effects of low carbohydrate or high protein diets in the control of body weight or insulin resistance,” they concluded.  “Instead, they draw attention to the potential for considerable adverse effects on cardiovascular health of these diets when they are used on a regular basis, without consideration of the nature of carbohydrates or the source of proteins.”

-Michael Potts