In 1958, Pritikin was diagnosed with "coronary artery insufficiency (without symptoms) secondary to an exercise electrocardiogram". By diet and exercise, he was able to reduce his cholesterol level. He charged patients $6,000 for several weeks of the Program at his Pritikin center. Protein consumption is limited to 3.5 ounces of lean meat daily, which reduces total cholesterol and fat intake. The Pritikin Program has been authorized as a cardiac rehabilitation program by
Medicare.
Reception Dietitians and nutritionists have classified the Pritikin diet as a
fad diet due to its restrictive nature and unsubstantiated health claims. Some of Pritikin's dietary recommendations are in line with mainstream nutritional advice, such as emphasizing vegetable consumption and restricting alcohol, but his claims about his Program reversing atherosclerosis are not supported by clinical evidence. He was criticized also for making "false statements", such as "almost any amount of sugar is too much".
Frederick J. Stare commented that the Pritikin diet is an "extremely restrictive plan" that is difficult to adhere to long-term and suggested that the diet may increase the risk of
iron deficiency. A 2023 review found that the Pritikin diet had no significant impact on all-cause mortality or cardiovascular outcomes. ==Death==