29 May Kidney Function Following Three Distinct Weight Loss Dietary Strategies

MedicalResearch.com eInterview with Iris Shai, RD, PhD
PI of the DIRECT trial
Ben Gurion University of the Negev,
Israel

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Shai: Low-carbohydrate is as effective as Mediterranean or low-fat diets in improving renal function among moderately obese participants with or without type 2 diabetes, with baseline serum creatinine<176µmol/L (not sever renal stage).  The effect is likely to be mediated by weight-loss induced improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood pressure.

MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr. Shai: We did not know how relatively high protein diet would affect renal function.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Shai: Low-carbohydrate (relatively high protein) and Mediterranean diets are as effective as the traditional low-fat diet in improving renal function among moderately obese participants with or without type 2 diabetes.  Of note , the trial was conducted among participant with baseline serum creatinine<176µmol/L (not at severe renal stage). 

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Shai: I would recommend to further address the suggested mechanism: that improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood pressure following body weight loss are the main component needed to improve renal function. I would try to repeat this trial to confirm the safety of relatively high protein diets in respect of renal function.

Citation:

Renal Function Following Three Distinct Weight Loss Dietary Strategies During 2 Years of Randomized Controlled Trial

Tirosh A, Golan R, Harman-Boehm I, Henkin Y, Schwarzfuchs D, Rudich A, Kovsan J, Fiedler GM, Blüher M, Stumvoll M, Thiery J, Stampfer MJ, Shai I.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard School of Public Health Boston, Massachusetts, and the Talpiot Medical Leadership Program, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
Diabetes Care. 2013 May 20. [Epub ahead of print]

Last Updated on November 12, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD