RE: Experiences with Atkins diet

From: gts (gts_2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Wed Apr 30 2003 - 17:17:18 MDT

  • Next message: Brian Atkins: "Re: Experiences with Atkins diet"

    While I believe intake of saturated fats and cholesterol should be kept to
    very modest levels, by eliminating dairy and by eating only lean meats, I do
    not believe either should be eliminated entirely from the diet. Both were
    present in modest quantities in the diets upon which we evolved.

    The article cited by Brian supports my case but Harvey points out correctly
    that the same website hosts some rather strange pseudoscience.

    Below is one reason that modest amounts of cholesterol are needed in the
    diet. This is one of several studies that show people with low cholesterol
    are more prone to depression and suicide.

    Cholesterol is the precursor to most hormones, a fact which might help
    explain associating between low cholesterol and depression. Low testosterone
    and low DHEA, for example, are both associated with depression (the former
    in men, the latter in both men and women). Cholesterol is a metabolic
    precursor to both of these hormones.

    ABSTRACT:

    Further evidence for low serum cholesterol and suicidal behaviour.
    J Affect Disord 2000 Dec;61(1-2):69-71 (ISSN: 0165-0327)
    Sarchiapone M; Roy A; Camardese G; De Risio S
    Institute of Psychiatry/Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
    OBJECTIVE: To examine for a relationship between serum cholesterol and
    suicidal behavior. METHODS: Patients admitted after an overdose (N=120) were
    compared with controls (N=120) for their serum cholesterol levels. RESULTS:
    Patients who had overdosed had significantly lower serum cholesterol levels
    than controls (mean+/-S.D. 171+/-31 vs. 196+/-30 mg/dl, P<0.0001).
    CONCLUSION: These results add to a grouping literature reporting that low
    serum cholesterol is associated with suicidal behavior.



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