(11-11-07)High-protein diet shows short-term benefits on glucose metabolism

A high-protein diet could help patients with type 2 diabetes lose weight and improve glycaemic control, according to new findings from a short-term study.

A total of 44 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized by researchers at the University of Vienna, Austria, to either a high-protein diet (protein providing 30%, of calorific intake, carbohydrate providing 40% and fat providing 30%) or a standard diet (protein 15%, carbohydrate 55%, fat 30%).

Body weight fell significantly in both groups, and to a significantly greater extent in the high-protein diet group than in the standard diet group. In the high-protein diet group, mean weight fell from 94.1 kg at baseline to 91.0 kg at 3 months; in the standard diet group, mean weight fell from 91.5 kg at baseline to 90.5 kg at 3 months.

In the high-protein diet group there were also significant reductions in mean HbA1c (from 7.8% at baseline to 7.5% at 3 months), insulin dose (from 57.3 IU/day to 48.2 IU/day), fasting plasma glucose (from 203.2 mg/dL to 160.0 mg/dL), triglycerides (from 186.9 mg/dL to 140.7 mg/dL), diastolic blood pressure (from 83.2 mmHg to 76.9 mmHg), and fat mass (29.1 kg to 26.7 kg).

No significant changes were seen in the measured parameters in patients on the standard diet, except for insulin dose, which increased significantly.

The researchers said the beneficial effects of a high-protein diet on glycaemic parameters and insulin requirement "seem to be related to the greater weight loss and require confirmation over longer observation periods."

Source: European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 17-21 September 2007, presentation number P0793.

News

---

In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.