Low Carb Diet Doesn't Harm Kidneys
A low carb diet like Atkins diet does not harm kidneys or disturbs fluid electrolyte balance, says a new study.
Researchers compared the effects of a low-carb high-protein diet and low-fat diet on obese people.
"These results are relevant to the millions of healthy obese adults who use dieting as a weight loss strategy," said Dr. Allon Friedman lead author of the study from the Indiana University School of Medicine.
For the study, the researchers randomly assigned low carb high protein diet or low-fat weight-loss diet in 307 obese people with no medical history of any health complications. The participants had to be on the diet for 2 years.
"As long as the diet is sensible, the most important thing is weight loss, regardless. Other studies have suggested high-protein diets allow patients to lose at least as much weight as heart-healthy diets," Friedman said to Fox News.
"We did not find that a high-protein diet led to any kidney-related problems like lower filtration rates, kidney stones or problems with blood electrolytes," Friedman said.
Researchers found that low fat diet in obese people did not lead to any harmful effects on kidneys.
However, the researchers say that further studies are required to determine long-term effects on kidneys.
People should consult their doctors before making any changes in diet.
The present study is published in Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.