title: Prevention and control of type 2 diabetes by Mediterranean diet: a systematic review.
abstract: We conducted a systematic review of the available studies that assessed the effect of a Mediterranean diet in type 2 diabetes. We searched publications up to 30 November 2009. Seventeen studies were included. Two large prospective studies report a substantially lower risk (83% and 35%, respectively) of type 2 diabetes in healthy people or in post-infarct patients with the highest adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Five randomized controlled trials have evaluated the effects of a Mediterranean diet, as compared with other commonly used diets, on indices of glycaemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes. Improvement of fasting glucose and HbA1c levels was greater with a Mediterranean diet and ranged from 7 to 40mg/dl for fasting glucose, and from 0.1 to 0.6% for HbA1c. No trial reported worsening of glycaemic control with a Mediterranean diet. Two controlled trials in a secondary prevention setting demonstrated that post-infarct patients, including diabetic patients, had cardiovascular benefits from a Mediterranean diet. The evidence so far accumulated suggests that adopting a Mediterranean diet may help prevent type 2 diabetes, and also improve glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk in persons with established diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Maria Ida
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Maiorino
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceriello
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giugliano
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose