Richard D. Feinman, PhD, is Professor of Biochemistry at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, co-editor-in-chief of the journal Nutrition & Metabolism, and Director of the Nutrition and Metabolism Society (www.nmsociety.org). Diabetes may be described as a disease of glucose intolerance: high blood glucose is both the characteristic indicator and the cause of complications. Th...

background: although several observational and experimental studies have examined the effects of low carbohydrate diets (lcds) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (nafld), there are considerable inconsistencies among studies. we summarized the effect of lcds on liver function tests, including intrahepatic lipid content (ihlc), alanine transaminase (alt), aspartate aminotransferases (ast),and ga...

Americans spend dollar 33 billion annually on weight loss products and services, and a large portion of this money is spent on low-carbohydrate diets. Because of their higher protein and fat content and lower fiber and carbohydrate content, concerns have been raised about the potential health consequences of low-carbohydrate diets. Published long-term data are lacking. Short-term studies compar...

• Background: Many patients are asking about weight reduction diets publicized in the lay press, such as “Protein Power,” “Sugar Busters,” and “Dr. Atkins’ New Diet Revolution.” A common theme of these diets is the restriction of carbohydrate intake. • Objective: To summarize the published medical literature regarding very low carbohydrate (< 40 g/day) diets. • Methods: A MEDLINE search and han...