Long-term effects of a Palaeolithic-type diet in obese postmenopausal women: a 2-year randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
Short-term studies have suggested beneficial effects of a Palaeolithic-type diet (PD) on body weight and metabolic balance. We now report the long-term effects of a PD on anthropometric measurements and metabolic balance in obese postmenopausal women, in comparison with a diet according to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR).


METHODS
Seventy obese postmenopausal women (mean age 60 years, body mass index 33 kg/m(2)) were assigned to an ad libitum PD or NNR diet in a 2-year randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome was change in fat mass as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.


RESULTS
Both groups significantly decreased total fat mass at 6 months (-6.5 and-2.6 kg) and 24 months (-4.6 and-2.9 kg), with a more pronounced fat loss in the PD group at 6 months (P<0.001) but not at 24 months (P=0.095). Waist circumference and sagittal diameter also decreased in both the groups, with a more pronounced decrease in the PD group at 6 months (-11.1 vs-5.8 cm, P=0.001 and-3.7 vs-2.0 cm, P<0.001, respectively). Triglyceride levels decreased significantly more at 6 and 24 months in the PD group than in the NNR group (P<0.001 and P=0.004). Nitrogen excretion did not differ between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
A PD has greater beneficial effects vs an NNR diet regarding fat mass, abdominal obesity and triglyceride levels in obese postmenopausal women; effects not sustained for anthropometric measurements at 24 months. Adherence to protein intake was poor in the PD group. The long-term consequences of these changes remain to be studied.
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Mellberg
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Sandberg
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Ryberg
Department of Statistics, USBE, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Eriksson
MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Brage
1] Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden [2] Department of Food and Nutrition, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Larsson
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Olsson
Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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Lindahl
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000178:diet therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055105:Waist Circumference
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides