Diet fads tend to ignite a firestorm of attention, mostly from new adherents but also from the medical community eager to test the efficacy and safety of the latest diet trends. The popularity of the Atkins diet soared in the late 1990s and early 2000s despite celebrating its 30th anniversary, and doctors are still generally split on the safety question as of 2010, particularly as it relates to growth patterns in young and unborn children.
History
Dr. Robert Atkins published his first book, "Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution" in 1972 after reading an article about Ketosis in the "British Medical Journal." Ketosis is a metabolic state the body enters when it is forced to use stored fat for energy rather than glycogen built up in the muscle tissue. Dieters enter ketosis by fasting or by lowering carbohydrate intake so the body must turn to secondary sources of ready energy.
Features
The diet begins with an induction phase during which dieters must limit carbohydrate intake to no more than 20 g per day. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, however, recommends roughly 250 g of carbs per day for those eating about 2,000 calories. Induction lasts two weeks, and the small number of carbs generally comes from trace amounts in sauces and condiments. The bulk of the diet is meat, poultry, fish, dairy and fats. After induction, dieters gradually increase their carbohydrate intake by adding starchy vegetables, but maintenance on the diet still requires a cap of about 90 g of carbs per day maximum.
Childhood Growth Patterns
Children who suffer from epilepsy benefit from a ketogenic diet, a similar approach to nutrition as the Atkins diet. However, a side effect is a reduction in the growth rate, particularly in infants and in children over 6 years old, according to Eric Kossoff, M.D., editor of Keto News.
Fetal Growth Patterns
Fetal growth is also affected by low-carb, high-protein diets, says M. Nathanial Meade, in the October 2007 edition of the "Environmental Health Prospect." High protein consumption leads to an increase in stress hormone production, like cortisol, which has been linked to low birth weights. Additionally, the state of ketosis necessary for weight loss on the Atkins Diet can develop into metabolic ketoacidosis, a disruption of the pH in the blood, which has an adverse effect on fetal growth and development, according to Natalia Igosheva, a research scientist at King's College London.
Additional Side Effects
Increased acidity in the urine from metabolic ketoacidosis leeches calcium from the blood, leading to a reduction in bone density and an increase in bone fractures, according to Meade. Mineral deficiency slows bone growth, and children on a ketogenic diet like Atkins may need counteracting medications like pamidronate to offset the negative effect on bone density and bone growth.
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