(10-09-15) Comparison of low- and high-carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes management: a randomized trial.

Tay J1, Luscombe-Marsh ND2, Thompson CH3, Noakes M4, Buckley JD5, Wittert GA3, Yancy WS Jr6, Brinkworth GD7.
Author information
1Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation-Food and Nutrition Flagship, Adelaide, Australia; Centre for Nutritional and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.
2Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation-Food and Nutrition Flagship, Adelaide, Australia; Centre for Nutritional and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia;
3Centre for Nutritional and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia;
4Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation-Food and Nutrition Flagship, Adelaide, Australia;
5Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia;
6Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC; and.
7Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation-Food and Nutrition Flagship, Adelaide, Australia; [email protected].
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Few well-controlled studies have comprehensively examined the effects of very-low-carbohydrate diets on type 2 diabetes (T2D).
OBJECTIVE:
We compared the effects of a very-low-carbohydrate, high-unsaturated fat, low-saturated fat (LC) diet with a high-carbohydrate, low-fat (HC) diet on glycemic control and cardiovascular disease risk factors in T2D after 52 wk.
DESIGN:
In this randomized controlled trial that was conducted in an outpatient research clinic, 115 obese adults with T2D [mean ± SD age: 58 ± 7 y; body mass index (in kg/m2): 34.6 ± 4.3; glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c): 7.3 ± 1.1%; duration of diabetes: 8 ± 6 y] were randomly assigned to consume either a hypocaloric LC diet [14% of energy as carbohydrate (carbohydrate <50 g/d), 28% of energy as protein, and 58% of energy as fat (<10% saturated fat)] or an energy-matched HC diet [53% of energy as carbohydrate, 17% of energy as protein, and 30% of energy as fat (<10% saturated fat)] combined with supervised aerobic and resistance exercise (60 min; 3 d/wk). Outcomes were glycemic control assessed with use of measurements of HbA1c, fasting blood glucose, glycemic variability assessed with use of 48-h continuous glucose monitoring, diabetes medication, weight, blood pressure, and lipids assessed at baseline, 24, and 52 wk.
RESULTS:
Both groups achieved similar completion rates (LC diet: 71%; HC diet: 65%) and mean (95% CI) reductions in weight [LC diet: -9.8 kg (-11.7, -7.9 kg); HC diet: -10.1 kg (-12.0, -8.2 kg)], blood pressure [LC diet: -7.1 (-10.6, -3.7)/-6.2 (-8.2, -4.1) mm Hg; HC diet: -5.8 (-9.4, -2.2)/-6.4 (-8.4, -4.3) mm Hg], HbA1c [LC diet: -1.0% (-1.2, -0.7%); HC diet: -1.0% (-1.3, -0.8%)], fasting glucose [LC diet: -0.7 mmol/L (-1.3, -0.1 mmol/L); HC diet: -1.5 mmol/L (-2.1, -0.8 mmol/L)], and LDL cholesterol [LC diet: -0.1 mmol/L (-0.3, 0.1 mmol/L); HC diet: -0.2 mmol/L (-0.4, 0.03 mmol/L)] (P-diet effect ≥ 0.10). Compared with the HC-diet group, the LC-diet group achieved greater mean (95% CI) reductions in the diabetes medication score [LC diet: -0.5 arbitrary units (-0.7, -0.4 arbitrary units); HC diet: -0.2 arbitrary units (-0.4, -0.06 arbitrary units); P = 0.02], glycemic variability assessed by measuring the continuous overall net glycemic action-1 [LC diet: -0.5 mmol/L (-0.6, -0.3 mmol/L); HC diet: -0.05 mmol/L (-0.2, -0.1 mmol/L); P = 0.003], and triglycerides [LC diet: -0.4 mmol/L (-0.5, -0.2 mmol/L); HC diet: -0.01 mmol/L (-0.2, 0.2 mmol/L); P = 0.001] and greater mean (95% CI) increases in HDL cholesterol [LC diet: 0.1 mmol/L (0.1, 0.2 mmol/L); HC diet: 0.06 mmol/L (-0.01, 0.1 mmol/L); P = 0.002].
CONCLUSIONS:
Both diets achieved substantial weight loss and reduced HbA1c and fasting glucose. The LC diet, which was high in unsaturated fat and low in saturated fat, achieved greater improvements in the lipid profile, blood glucose stability, and reductions in diabetes medication requirements, suggesting an effective strategy for the optimization of T2D management. This trial was registered at www.anzctr.org.au as ACTRN12612000369820.


Source: Am J Clin Nutr. 2015 Jul 29. pii: ajcn112581. [Epub ahead of print]

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