Danger in Detroit: KETO craze linked to heart disease. Doctor Explains

Heart Health

The big picture: Dr. Puja Uppal says "Many people are surprised to learn that a KETO diet can be dangerous."

In the news: New research is showing that low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets (LCHF), similar to ketogenic (KETO) diets, may dramatically increase the risk of cardiovascular events in some people.

The key point: The study analyzed data from the UK Biobank. The study found that people on LCHF diets experienced cardiovascular events like artery blockage, heart attacks, and even strokes--when compared to people who were on standard diets.

Though this study doesn't completely prove that KETO type diets can lead to cardiovascular events, it does find that caution is warranted.

You need to talk to your healthcare team before you start a low-carb high-fat diet.

Did you know that 11.7% of the adults living in Wayne County state they're not in good physical health? 38.4% of the adults in Wayne County are obese.

Looking to improve your health?

Doctor's Insight about Keto Diet and Cardiovascular Health

Know this: "I recommend to my patients that if they're experiencing any of the following risk factors, not do KETO. The risk factors include hypertension, diabetes, a personal history of heart disease, a family history of heart disease, heart failure, elevated cholesterol, early onset menopause, or whether they are or were a smoker in the past 15 years! Having any of these cardiac risk factors increases your chances of adverse cardiovascular risk events on an LCHF diet." Dr. Puja Uppal, Family Medicine.

Next steps: To determine if you're a good candidate for KETO, you should get the following labs done.

1. Lipids.
2. Liver enzymes.
3. A1c.

For a more comprehensive approach, you may even need a chest CT to rule out any plaque burden.

Further steps: You should know that there are safer long-term medications available for weight loss. Medicines like Saxenda, Mounjaro, and Ozempic have a safety profile that puts you in a good place.

Living in Michigan, it's important for you to understand that a ketogenic (KETO) diet puts a lot of stress on your body. Especially, if you have any of the underlying symptoms listed above.

Did you know that obesity is now seen as one of the most important public health problems facing the world today?

You're not alone. Talk to your healthcare team!

In Wayne County, 34.5% of the adults have high blood pressure. There were 27127 deaths from Heart Disease in Michigan.

What they're saying:

"People who are considering going on an LCHF diet should be aware that doing so could lead to an increase in their levels of LDL cholesterol and higher risk of cardiac events." Dr. Iulia Iatan

"(A ketogenic diet) is hard to follow, and it can be heavy on red meat and other fatty, processed, and salty foods that are notoriously unhealthy. We also do not know much about its long-term effects, probably because it's so hard to stick with that people can't eat this way for a long time." Marcelo Campos, MD.

"...the keto diet is primarily used to manage seizures in children with epilepsy. Research on the diet's effectiveness in treating obesity or diabetes is limited." Rachel Kleinman, RDN, LDN

Image: CDC

Source:

Researchers at the University of British Columbia published the paper: Popular keto diet may be linked to higher risk of heart disease, cardiac events (Read it Here)

Obesity Stats: (Trust for America's Health)

41.9% of adults have obesity.

49.9% of Black adults have obesity.

Rural America has higher rates of obesity than urban and suburban America.

11.7% of Wayne County adults report that they're not in good physical health.

The Health Standard Newswire