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Reply to RM Ortega and AM López-Sobaler

CSIRO Human Nutrition
PO Box 10041
BC Adelaide SA 5000
Australia

E-mail: peter.clifton{at}csiro.au

Dear Sir:

Thank you for the opportunity to reply. Ortega and López-Sobaler have not appreciated the point of our study, which was to answer a specific question about the metabolic effects of exchanging protein for fat in the context of energy restriction, in particular, "is an increased amount of protein useful for weight loss or is the effect seen with increased protein related to carbohydrate restriction? " Thus, the high-fat, high-protein diet was an experimental diet to answer this question and not necessarily one we would recommend for long-term use. In addition, the "theoretical ideal" as described by these authors refers to a dietary pattern for energy balance and is not necessarily relevant to weight loss. Indeed, 15% of energy from protein in the context of energy restriction will result in less than adequate protein intake. The recommended ranges for protein intake are based on both adequacy of protein intake and the usual intakes seen in developed countries. Our recent publication showed that an energy-restricted, high-protein, low-fat diet provides nutritional and metabolic benefits that are equal to and sometimes greater than those observed with a high-carbohydrate diet (1). We accept that low-fat diets can lead to long-term weight loss, but high-protein, low-fat diets may well be as effective for some people with the advantage of promoting a better lipid profile. The recent editorial in the June issue of the Journal also makes the point that there may not be a diet that suits all and that "the best diet for maintaining weight loss may be different from the best diet for achieving weight loss" (2). However, both low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets and high-protein diets are a deviation from those commonly consumed in Western countries, and long-term compliance is an issue for both.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors had no conflicts of interest to report.

REFERENCES

1. Noakes M, Keogh JB, Foster PR, Clifton PM. Effect of an energy-restricted, high-protein, low-fat diet relative to a conventional high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet on weight loss, body composition, nutritional status, and markers of cardiovascular health in obese women. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:1298-306.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
2. Hill JO. Obesity treatment: does one size fit all? Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:1253-4(editorial).[Free Full Text]

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Clifton, P. Articles by Noakes, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Clifton, P. Articles by Noakes, M. Agricola Articles by Clifton, P. Articles by Noakes, M.