title: Randomization to a low-carbohydrate diet advice improves health related quality of life compared with a low-fat diet at similar weight-loss in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of a 2-year intervention with a low-fat diet (LFD) or a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) based on four group-meetings to achieve compliance. To describe different aspects of taking part in the intervention following the LFD or LCD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized trial of 61 adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The SF-36 questionnaire was used at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months. Patients on LFD aimed for 55-60 energy percent (E%) and those on LCD for 20 E% from carbohydrates. The patients were interviewed about their experiences of the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean body-mass-index was 32.7 ± 5.4 kg/m(2) at baseline. Weight-loss did not differ between groups and was maximal at 6 months, LFD: -3.99 ± 4.1 kg, LCD: -4.31 ± 3.6 kg (p<0.001 within groups). There was an increase in the physical component score of SF-36 from 44.1 (10.0) to 46.7 (10.5) at 12 months in the LCD group (p < 0.009) while no change occurred in the LFD group (p < 0.03 between groups). At 12 months the physical function, bodily pain and general health scores improved within the LCD group (p values 0.042-0.009) while there was no change within the LFD group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weight-changes did not differ between the diet groups while improvements in HRQoL only occurred after one year during treatment with LCD. No changes of HRQoL occurred in the LFD group in spite of a similar reduction in body weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guldbrand
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Diabetes Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindström
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dizdar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bunjaku
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Diabetes Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Östgren
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Diabetes Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; County Council of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Nystrom
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Electronic address: margareta.bachrach-lindstrom@liu.se.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bachrach-Lindström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Dietary intervention; Low-carbohydrate diet; SF-36; Type 2 diabetes mellitus