High fat diets recommended for management of type 2 diabetes

This study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition 2014 Mar 25:1-12

 

Study title and authors:

Comparison of the long-term effects of high-fat v. low-fat diet consumption on cardiometabolic risk factors in subjects with abnormal glucose metabolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Schwingshackl L, Hoffmann G.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstreet 14 UZA II, Vienna A-1090, Austria.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24666665

The aim of the review and meta-analysis was to examine the long-term (more than 12 months) effects of high-fat v low-fat diet consumption on specific markers of cardiovascular risk in pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals. The analysis included 14 trials and 1,753 subjects.

The study found:
(a) Those on high fat regimens had a significant decrease in triglyceride levels.
(b) Those on high fat regimens had a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure.
(c) Those on high fat regimens had a significant decrease in fasting glucose levels levels.
(d) Those on high fat regimens had a significant increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

The high fat diet improved specific markers of cardiovascular risk in pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals.

The lead researcher of the review, Lukas Schwingshackl from the University of Vienna, concluded: "High fat and low fat diets might not be of equal value in the management of either pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, leading to emphasis being placed on the recommendations of high fat diets".