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Heart Disease Victim Sues Atkins

A businessman in his 50’s is suing Atkins Nutritionals Inc. and the estate of Robert C Atkins for allegedly causing him personal injury after following the Atkins diet for 2 years.

Jody Gorran had suffered a great increase in LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and, after enduring persistent chest pains, found that some of the arteries leading to his heart had become blocked to the extent that there was a 99% narrowing of one of his coronary arteries.

Mr Gorran had to undergo heart surgery, and his doctors advised him to discontinue following the Atkins regime. After doing so, Jody’s LDL (bad) cholesterol levels returned slowly back to normal.

Mr Gorran is taking Atkins Nutritionals Inc. to court in Florida for ‘Negligent Misrepresentation Causing Personal Injury’ and ‘Product Liability Claim For Personal Injury’. Mr Gorran wants the court to issue an injunction requiring health warnings on all Atkins related books, websites and products.

Representatives from the Atkins camp maintain that Mr Gorran's claim is 'frivolous'. They point out that Atkins does advise that some people (up to 1 in 3) may be 'fat sensitive' and should follow a low fat version of the diet.

Further Information

For more on both sides of the argument see:

The suit document entered into a Florida county court on 26th May 2004 www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/atkinssuit.html

MSNBC has a good feature on the case including interviews with Jody Gorran and Atkins People msnbc.msn.com/id/5137232

H.E.A.R.T. - The Cholesterol Charity

HEART UK supports all those at risk of inherited high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. www.heartuk.org.uk

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