Popular Diets Deficient in Vitamins, Minerals

LONDONIndividuals trying to lose weight by following a popular diet plan may also lose valuable vitamins and minerals along with those pounds, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2010 June; 7:24). Author Jayson B. Calton noted people who follow common diets, specifically the Atkins for Life diet, The South Beach Diet, the DASH diet and The Best Life Diet, without adding supplements, have a high likelihood of becoming micronutrient deficient; a state shown to be scientifically linked to an increased risk for many dangerous and debilitating health conditions and diseases.

He noted research has shown micronutrient deficiency to be scientifically linked to a higher risk of overweight/obesity and other dangerous and debilitating diseases. With more than two-thirds of the U.S. population overweight or obese, and research showing that one-third are on a diet at any given time, Calton said a need exists to determine whether current popular diet plans could protect followers from micronutrient deficiency by providing the minimum levels of 27 micronutrients, as determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) Reference Daily Intake (RDI) guidelines.

In the study, he evaluated suggested daily menus from four popular diet plans (Atkins for Life diet, The South Beach Diet, the DASH diet, The Best Life Diet). Calorie and micronutrient content of each ingredient, in each meal, were determined by using food composition data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. The results were evaluated for sufficiency and caloric intake levels and deficient micronutrients were identified.

Analysis determined that each of the four popular diet plans failed to provide minimum RDI sufficiency for all 27 micronutrients analyzed. The four diet plans, on average, were found to be RDI sufficient in about 11 of the analyzed 27 micronutrients, and contain about 1,750 calories. Further analysis of the four diets found that an average calorie intake of 27,500 would be required to achieve sufficiency in all 27 micronutrients.

Six micronutrients (vitamin B7, vitamin D, vitamin E, chromium, iodine and molybdenum) were identified as consistently low or nonexistent in all four diet plans.