Short-term effects of severe dietary carbohydrate-restriction advice in Type 2 diabetes--a randomized controlled trial

Diabet Med. 2006 Jan;23(1):15-20. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2005.01760.x.

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to examine the effects of a 3-month programme of dietary advice to restrict carbohydrate intake compared with reduced-portion, low-fat advice in obese subjects with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes.

Research design and methods: One hundred and two patients with Type 2 diabetes were recruited across three centres and randomly allocated to receive group education and individual dietary advice. Weight, glycaemic control, lipids and blood pressure were assessed at baseline and 3 months. Dietary quality was assessed at the end of study.

Results: Weight loss was greater in the low-carbohydrate (LC) group (-3.55 +/- 0.63, mean +/- sem) vs. -0.92 +/- 0.40 kg, P = 0.001) and cholesterol : high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio improved (-0.48 +/- 0.11 vs. -0.10 +/- 0.10, P = 0.01). However, relative saturated fat intake was greater (13.9 +/- 0.71 vs. 11.0 +/- 0.47% of dietary intake, P < 0.001), although absolute intakes were moderate.

Conclusions: Carbohydrate restriction was an effective method of achieving short-term weight loss compared with standard advice, but this was at the expense of an increase in relative saturated fat intake.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diet therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage*
  • Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
  • Energy Intake / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipoproteins, HDL / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / diet therapy
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Patient Education as Topic / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight Loss / physiology

Substances

  • Dietary Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Fats
  • Lipoproteins, HDL
  • Cholesterol