30 Jul High Protein Low Carb Diet For Type 2 Diabetes Management
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Grant Brinkworth PhD
Associate Professor
Senior Research Scientist
CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences
Adelaide BC, South Australia
Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?
Dr. Brinkworth: Both a very low carbohydrate, high protein, high unsaturated fat diet and a high carbohydrate, low fat diet achieved similar weight loss, improvements in body composition and health risk markers. However, compared to the high carbohydrate, low fat diet, a very low carbohydrate high protein, high unsaturated fat diet had more favourable effects on blood lipid profile, glycemic control (indicated by greater reductions in glycosylated haemoglobin – primary clinical measure of blood glucose control and the requirements for blood glucose controlling drugs) and for reducing daily blood glucose fluctuations.
The findings from this study suggests that a novel eating pattern that markedly limits carbohydrates, increases protein and unsaturated fat may have more favourable therapeutic potential for optimising the management of type 2 diabetes and reducing cardiovascular disease risk.
Medical Research: Were any of the findings unexpected?
Dr. Brinkworth: No, the findings were as hypothesised that a very low carbohydrate diet, with a modified fatty acid profile, high in unsaturated fat and low in saturated fat compared to a traditional high carbohydrate, low fat diet offer the greatest improvements in glucose control and cardiovascular disease risk markers.
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Brinkworth: Incorporation of a very low carbohydrate, high protein, high unsatuated fat eating plan within a comprehensive lifestyle modification program offers therapeutic benefits for improving both acute and chronic glycaemic control, reducing blood glucose variability and enhancing cardiovascular health in type 2 diabetes.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Brinkworth:
1. Examine the health effects of these dietary patterns over a longer-term.
2. Explore how this dietary pattern can be incorporated into a cost-effective, community based lifestyle modification program.
Citation:
A Very Low Carbohydrate, Low Saturated Fat Diet for Type 2 Diabetes Management: A Randomized Trial
Tay J1, Natalie D LM2, Thompson CH3, Noakes M2, Buckley JD4, Wittert GA3, Yancy WS Jr5, Brinkworth GD6.
Diabetes Care. 2014 Jul 28. pii: DC_140845. [Epub ahead of print]
Last Updated on July 30, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD