Low Carb Leads to Colon Cancer? Researchers Let Feces Tell This Story

Posted On March 17, 2011

Andres Rodas works at a butcher shop in Buenos Aires January 18, 2008. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci

The Atkins diet was always good for a few quick pounds of weight loss. But the phrase, “I’d die to lose weight” may be (unfortunately) more applicable here that you want to believe.

Now you have to add “bad for your colon” to “bad for your kidney” and “bad for your heart”, to the growing list of the long term effects of this diet theory.

Here’s the study

17 obese men each followed three short-term diets:

a one-week menu plan designed to maintain their weight;
a four-week high-protein diet with moderate amounts of carbohydrates;
a four-week high-protein diet low in carbs.

The first diet, which allowed about 360 grams of carbs per day, typically offered cereal, eggs and toast for breakfast; a sandwich and salad for lunch; and chicken, fish or soy, along with pasta, for dinner.
The low-carb diet — which allowed just 22 grams of carbs each day — generally consisted of eggs-and-bacon breakfasts, and lunches and dinners heavy in meat, poultry and fish, along with some vegetables and cheese.
The moderate-carbohydrate diet allowed 181 grams of carbs each day. Both high-protein diets contained just less than 140 grams of protein per day.

Stool Samples Don’t Lie

At the end of each diet period, Flint’s team analyzed fecal samples from the men to look at levels of certain metabolic byproducts. On average, when the men were on the high-protein diets, they had higher levels of substances known as N-nitroso compounds, and certain other metabolites that have been linked to cancer.

Bottom Line
It was a great theory. It just does more long term harm than the short term elation of losing weight for a few months before yo-yoing, and putting it all back on.

Are high-protein diets bad for your colon? | Reuters