A low carbohydrate Mediterranean diet improves cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes control among overweight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 1-year prospective randomized intervention study.
BACKGROUND
The appropriate dietary intervention for overweight persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is unclear. Trials comparing the effectiveness of diets are frequently limited by short follow-up times and high dropout rates.


OBJECTIVE
The effects of a low carbohydrate Mediterranean (LCM), a traditional Mediterranean (TM), and the 2003 American Diabetic Association (ADA) diet were compared, on health parameters during a 12-month period.


METHODS
In this 12-month trial, 259 overweight diabetic patients (mean age 55 years, mean body mass index 31.4 kg/m(2)) were randomly assigned to one of the three diets. The primary end-points were reduction of fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and triglyceride (TG) levels.


RESULTS
194 patients out of 259 (74.9%) completed follow-up. After 12 months, the mean weight loss for all patients was 8.3 kg: 7.7 kg for ADA, 7.4 kg for TM and 10.1 kg for LCM diets. The reduction in HbA1c was significantly greater in the LCM diet than in the ADA diet (-2.0 and -1.6%, respectively, p < 0.022). HDL cholesterol increased (0.1 mmol/l +/- 0.02) only on the LCM (p < 0.002). The reduction in serum TG was greater in the LCM (-1.3 mmol/l) and TM (-1.5 mmol/l) than in the ADA (-0.7 mmol/l), p = 0.001.


CONCLUSIONS
An intensive 12-month dietary intervention in a community-based setting was effective in improving most modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in all the dietary groups. Only the LCM improved HDL levels and was superior to both the ADA and TM in improving glycaemic control.
Elhayany
A
A
Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel. elasher@clalit.org.il
Lustman
A
A
Abel
R
R
Attal-Singer
J
J
Vinker
S
S
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D015930:Diet Records; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / Q000379:methods*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States