Low-Carb Diet Linked to Impaired Memory

Eating a diet that is low in carbohydrates may temporarily impair memory, a new study suggests.

The study, published in the journal Appetite, included 19 women between the ages of 22 and 55. One group followed a low-carb weight-loss diet similar to the Atkins diet. This diet is based on the theory that overweight people eat too many carbohydrates. Bodies burn both fat and carbohydrates for energy, but carbohydrates are used first. By drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and increasing protein and fat intake, the body will, in theory, naturally lose weight by burning stored body fat more efficiently.

The second group of women followed a low-calorie diet that is recommended by the American Diabetic Association. This diet is rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The goal of this diet is weight management through the reduction of calories, daily intake of dietary fat (specifically saturated fat) and individualization of carbohydrate intake based on the type of diabetes a person has and the level of control over blood sugar levels.

Before the study, the researchers tested the participants' short- and long-term memory and attention. The tests were repeated one, two and three weeks after they began their diets.

After one week, women who ate a low-carb diet scored lower on the memory tests than those following the low-calorie diet. They also had slower reaction times and poorer visual-spatial memory compared to those following a low-calorie diet.

However, those in the low-carb group scored better on tests that measured attention.

The low-carb diet did not have permanent effects on memory. The participants' memory improved at the end of the study, one week after carbohydrates were reintroduced into their diets.

References

1.D'Anci KE, Watts KL, Kanarek RB, et al. Low-carbohydrate weight-loss diets. Effects on cognition and mood. Appetite. 2009 Feb;52(1):96-103. View Abstract

2.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com/  Copyright © 2008.

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