Low-carbohydrate diet and coronary heart disease in women.

Halton and colleagues (Nov. 9 issue)report that low-carbohydrate diets are not associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease in women. We pooled data from our own studies evaluating the effect of lifestyle changes(Mediterranean-style diet and exercise) on body weight, lipid levels, and vascular inflammatory markers in 190 overweight women who were followed for up to 2 years.Women consuming a low-carbohydrate diet lost more weight than did those consuming a high-carbohydrate diet and had better lipid and inflammatory profiles. Restriction of carbohydrates within a Mediterranean style diet may be advantageous for weight loss