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Low-carb diets may increase cholesterol levels

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Individuals who are on low-carb diets may want to consider cholesterol testing, as new evidence has linked this common weight loss strategy to elevations in blood lipid levels.

A team of Swedish researchers examined public health data regarding individuals' fat consumption and cholesterol levels in the years following the implementation of a nationwide initiative in Sweden to educate the public about making health diet choices. The program began in 1985.

The results showed that fat consumption and cholesterol levels dropped significantly in the seven years following the implementation of the program and stayed depressed for an extended period of time. However, the team noted that cholesterol levels and fat consumption began to increase in 2005, which they pointed out was precisely the time that low-carb diets became popular.

In a low-carb diet, individuals are urged to reduce carbohydrate consumption as much as possible and substitute in more proteins. Unfortunately, high-protein foods also tend to be rich in fat. By avoiding low-fat carbohydrate sources and favoring high-fat protein foods dieters may be putting their long-term cardiovascular health at risk, the researchers said.