Carbohydrates and HDL (page 3 of 5)

According to the researchers, blood levels of HDL cholesterol fell by an average of 10 percent in men placed on this diet over the six-week study period. However, levels of LDL fell in equal proportion, so that the all-important ratio of good-to-bad cholesterol remained stable.

In a statement, Desroches said the findings suggest that carbohydrate-linked reductions in HDL "should not raise concerns about cardiovascular health."

Lichtenstein agreed. "When you institute any kind of dietary modification, you want to make sure you don't decrease HDL without also decreasing LDL," she explained. "You want to make sure that that ratio doesn't go up."

She said advocates of the dietary craze of the moment, the Atkins diet, have long pointed to lowered HDL levels as a reason to abandon carbohydrates. But Lichtenstein said high-calorie intakes -- not carbs -- are most responsible for extreme dips in HDL, whatever the diet.

Continue to Page 4>>