1. Lowering LDL-C has been shown by a meta-analysis of 108 RCTs (the strongest possible evidence) to lower the risk of heart disease. The Atkins diet does not lower LDL-C during weight loss and raises LDL-C during weight maintenance in the average person. (1)
2. Raising HDL has been shown by a meta-analysis of 108 RCTs (the strongest possible evidence) to provide no significant protection against heart disease. (1)
3. Each LDL particle is just as atherogenic as the next whether it's fluffy or dense because each particle contains one ApoB. "Fluffy" LDL is much smaller than VLDL which carries most of the triglycerides and no one claims that VLDL is harmless.
4. This kind of diet increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer`s disease and all-cause mortality.
5. Short term studies during weight loss tell us very little about the long term effects of a diet because any diet will give relatively good lipid values during weight loss.
6. Studies during weight maintenance give the most useful information. And during weight maintenance very high saturated fat diets increase LDL-C, ApoB and CRP in the average person. (2)
7. Another study by Dr. Ronald Krauss showed during weight maintenance that a high beef, high saturated fat diet increased LDL particle number. (3)
8. All prospective cohort studies of very high saturated fat diets show increased heart disease and all-cause mortality.
To summarize (during weight maintenance), very high saturated fat diets increase LDL particle number and inflammation in the average person. And they increase the risk of mortality from a variety of illnesses in the average person.
References
1. Briel M, Ferreira-Gonzalez I, You JJ, Karanicolas PJ, Akl EA, Wu P, Blechacz B, Bassler D, Wei X, Sharman A, Whitt I, Alves da Silva S, Khalid Z, Nordmann AJ,Zhou Q, Walter SD, Vale N, Bhatnagar N, O'Regan C, Mills EJ, Bucher HC, Montori VM, Guyatt GH. Association between change in high density lipoprotein cholesterol and cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality: systematic review and meta-regression analysis. BMJ. 2009 Feb 16;338:b92. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b92. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19221140)
2. Miller M, Beach V, Sorkin JD, Mangano C, Dobmeier C, Novacic D, Rhyne J, Vogel RA. Comparative effects of three popular diets on lipids, endothelial function, and C-reactive protein during weight maintenance. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009 Apr;109(4):713-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2008.12.023. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19328268)
3. Mangravite LM, Chiu S, Wojnoonski K, Rawlings RS, Bergeron N, Krauss RM. Changes in atherogenic dyslipidemia induced by carbohydrate restriction in men are dependent on dietary protein source. J Nutr. 2011 Dec;141(12):2180-5. doi: 10.3945/jn.111.139477. Epub 2011 Oct 26. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22031660)
