title: Feasibility and efficacy of an isocaloric high-protein vs. standard diet on insulin requirement, body weight and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the feasibility and efficacy of a high-protein diet compared with a standard diet aiming for weight maintenance in insulin treated type-2 diabetic patients on insulin requirement, body weight and metabolic parameters over 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomized controlled trial we assigned 44 type-2 diabetic patients on insulin therapy either to high-protein or standard diet over 12 weeks. Parameters were evaluated at baseline and monthly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 12 weeks, the high protein diet significantly decreased insulin requirement (9.4 ± 16.3 vs. +0.8 ± 4.8 IU, mean ± SD; p=0.007), fasting plasma glucose (41.7 ± 62.5 vs. 2.1 ± 39.0 mg dl(-1); p=0.02), body mass index (1.1 ± 0.8 vs. 0.3 ± 0.7 kg m(-2); p=0.003), fat-free (0.8 ± 0.5 vs. 0.2 ± 0.5 kg; p=0.001), fat mass (2.6 ± 1.7 vs. 0.8 ± 1.6 kg; p=0.001) and increased serum folate (4.2 ± 8.3 vs. − 0.8 ± 5.5 nmol l(-1); p=0.04) compared to the standard diet. These beneficial metabolic effects are most likely related to the achieved weight loss. No significant differences between groups in renal function were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study we demonstrate that a high protein diet with emphasis on plant source protein vs. a standard diet is feasible in insulin-treated type-2 diabetic patients and reduces insulin requirement and body weight and improves metabolic parameters up to 12 weeks. A high protein diet can thus be considered as an appropriate diet choice for type-2 diabetic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine 3, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holstein
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kruschitz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ludvik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D010349:Patient Compliance; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin