Ketogenic diet is effective for improving and reversing type 2 diabetes

This study was published in Nutrition and Metabolism 2008 Dec 19;5:36

Study title and authors:

The effect of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus a low-glycemic index diet on glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Westman EC, Yancy WS Jr, Mavropoulos JC, Marquart M, McDuffie JR.

Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA. ewestman@duke.edu.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19099589

This 24 week study assessed the effects of two diets on 84 obese subjects with type 2 diabetes.

The two diets consisted of:
(i) Food of a low glycemic index, low calorie (each participant was assigned a diet designed to give them 500 calories a day less than they needed to maintain their weight), 55% carbohydrate diet. (Low glycemic index diet).
(ii) Food of less than 20 grams of carbohydrate a day, unlimited calorie intake and unlimited amounts of animal foods such as meat, poultry, fish and eggs. (Ketogenic diet).

The study found:
(a) Those on the ketogenic diet lost 61% more weight than those on the low glycemic index diet.
(b) Harmful high blood glucose levels reduced by an extra 24% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(c) Harmful high insulin levels reduced by an extra 172% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(d) Harmful high Hb1AC levels reduced by an extra 1% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(e) Harmful high blood pressure levels reduced by an extra 55% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(f) Harmful high triglyceride levels reduced by an extra 249% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(g) Harmful high very-low density lipoprotein  (VLDL) cholesterol levels were reduced by an extra 203% on the ketogenic diet compared to the low glycemic index diet.
(h) Healthy high levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were increased by 5.6 mg/dL (.14 mmol/l) on the ketogenic diet, whereas there was no change on the low glycemic index diet.

(i) Diabetes medications were reduced or eliminated in 95.2% in those on the ketogenic diet, whereas 62% of diabetes medications were reduced or eliminated in those on the low glycemic index diet.

The study shows how a ketogenic diet gives greater improvements than a low glycemic index diet and is effective for improving and reversing type 2 diabetes.

Links to other studies:
High fat diet to treat diabetes
Meat offers protection from diabetes and has anti-aging properties
High fat, low carbohydrate diets are an effective tool in the treatment of diabetes

Meat offers protection from diabetes and has anti-aging properties

This post features a synopsis on a study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2006 May;1067:369-74 and a recipe for a quick steak.

Study title and authors:
Would carnosine or a carnivorous diet help suppress aging and associated pathologies?
Hipkiss AR.
Centre for Experimental Therapeutics, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts' and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, UK. alanandjill@lineone.net

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16804013
 
In this review of the effects of carnosine, Hipkiss notes that carnosine (an amino acid) acts as an antioxidant and is found exclusively in animal tissues.
                                                                                                                                           Books:

The review found:
(a) Carnosine suppresses the formation of advanced glycosylation end products, which therefore protects from the complications of diabetes which advanced glycosylation end products promote.
(b) Dietary carnosine has improved the behaviour of autistic children.
(c) Carnosine rich diets may help prevent alzheimers. In old age, blood levels of homocarnosine decrease by more than 10-fold and high levels of advanced glycosylation end products are associated with alzheimers. So a carnosine rich diet offers protection from alzheimers by suppressing the formation of advanced glycosylation end products.

This review found that carnosine can supress the formation of dangerous advanced glycosylation end products and may give protection from diabetes, autism and alzheimers.

The richest sources of dietary carnosine are beef, poultry and pork.

 
Carnosine may be the reason that people who include meat in their diets have lower levels of the dangerous advanced glycosylation end-products compared to vegetarians. 

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Recipe of the day

Quick Steak
 
serves 3-4
 

Ingredients:                                                                                                  Food Mall: Rib-eye steak

1 1/2-2 lbs ribeye or T-bone steak

1-2 tablespoons cracked pepper
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
 
Instructions:
Sprinkle steaks with pepper and press in.
 
Melt butter and olive oil in a skillet.
 
Saute steaks a few minutes a side until desired doneness.