Colette's Blog

New Research: Atkins is Safe for Your Kidneys

December 1, 2014

Although there are no studies that show that Atkins causes kidney or liver problems in healthy individuals, there are still ill informed health professionals who equate Atkins with excessively high protein intake and the potential for kidney function decline. Those of us here in the community know that Atkins is not a very high protein diet; we recommend a protein intake that is no more than 25 to 30% of total calories, which is optimal. There are already research trials that examined liver and kidney and heart function on participants who followed ketogenic diets (Atkins approach) in which no negative effects were observed up to two years after. Also, follow-up on patients at Dr. Atkins’ medical practice (Dr. Atkins used his diet in private practice for 30 years) found no adverse effect on their kidney and liver functions.

Now there is more good news! A new study conducted by the American Diabetes Association supports the safety and efficacy of a low-carb diet like Atkins. This latest study compared a low-carb diet with Mediterranean or low-fat diets and their impact on preserving and/or improving renal (kidney) function of 318 moderately obese folks with or without type-2 diabetes. These participants were followed over the course of two years during a randomized and controlled trial, and a low-carb diet like Atkins was found to be just at effective and safe at preserving or improving kidney function as a Mediterranean diet or a low-fat diet.

The researchers believe that any improvement in kidney function was most likely due to the positive effects of weight loss from these diets, including improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood pressure. This type of research is always encouraging because it continues to show that if you are doing Atkins, not only will it help you lose weight (and keep it off), but that the protein intake does not have a negative impact on your kidneys, and, in fact, there is the potential that the weight loss may lead to improved kidney function in some folks. 

More From Colette

Protein: Women Who Need More and How to Get It

Protein’s importance has started taking center stage—especially for women. If you’re following a low carb lifestyle, optimizing protein intake is key for muscle maintenance, hormone balance and long-term health. Despite it’s importance, much of the research on protein has been done on sedentary, elderly men, leaving women somewhat in the dark when it comes to

Read More »

Conquering Visceral Fat and Heart Disease: How a Low Carb Lifestyle Can Help

It’s American Heart Month—and time to talk about one of the biggest silent threats to your heart: visceral fat. This type of fat, which you can’t see, sits on top of your internal organs, and is more than just an annoyance—it’s a significant risk factor for heart disease. But good news: a low carb lifestyle

Read More »

Your Guide to Winter Workouts: Stay Motivated and Active

Regular exercise offers many proven benefits for your body, mind and overall health. It pairs beautifully with a low carb lifestyle, helping you feel energized, balanced and on track toward your wellness goals. But let’s be honest—when the winter chill sets in, it can be tempting to curl up and hibernate rather than hit the

Read More »