Copyright
©The Author(s) 2017.
World J Diabetes. Oct 15, 2017; 8(10): 440-454
Published online Oct 15, 2017. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v8.i10.440
Published online Oct 15, 2017. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v8.i10.440
Type of diet | Type of summary document | Effect size | Long term data | Recommendation | Risk markers |
Low fat diet | Systematic review[18] | 10% reduction in fat lowers weight by 5 kg | |||
Low fat diet | Meta-analysis[19] | Not different to high fat weight loss diets Worth 5 kg compared with control | |||
Low fat diet | Cochrane[20] meta-analysis 32 RCT, 54000 participants At least 6-mo duration | Mean reduction 1.5 kg for low fat without intention to lose weight | No reduction with time | High quality evidence-effect seen in almost all studies | |
Conclusion | A useful strategy well worth pursuing | ||||
High protein diet | Meta-analysis of 12 m or greater weight loss studies 3492 individuals[22] | SMD 0.14 for weight P = 0.008) and 0.22 for fat mass, P < 0.001 for 2%-5% energy differences in protein. > 5% energy protein difference 0.9 kg weight loss | Data out to 5 yr still shows a small residual effect | Lower triglyceride (SMD 0.17, P = 0.003) and lower insulin (SMD 0.22, P = 0.042) | |
High protein diet | Meta-analysis of controlled short term studies[24] | 0.79 kg weight 95%CI: -1.50, -0.08 kg), 0.8 kg greater fat mass loss (-0.87 kg; 95%CI: -1.26, 0.48 ), 0.43 kg (95%CI: 0.09, 0.78) reduction in lean loss | Lower triglyceride (-0.23 mmol/L; 95%CI: -0.33, -0.12 mmol/L). Reductions in falls in REE (595.5 kJ/d; 95%CI: 67.0, 1124.1 kJ/d) | ||
Conclusion | Small effects. Difficult to maintain a higher protein intake long term as other sources of calories creep in | ||||
Very low carbohydrate diets | Energy controlled < 45% CHO vs < 30% fat 23 trials 2788 participants[31] | Weight outcomes same | Slightly lower LDL, TG, increased HDL | ||
Very low carbohydrate diets | Meta-analysis of 6 mo studies, 11 studies[25] | Atkins diet better by WMD -2.17 kg; 95%CI: -3.36, -0.99 | Not long term | No long term benefit, possible adverse CVD effects | Triglyceride was lowered WMD -0.26 mmol/L; 95%CI: -0.37, -0.15 by the low carbohydrate diet; LDL elevated by WMD 0.16 mmol/L; 95%CI: 0.003, 0.33). HDL elevated WMD 0.14 mmol/L; 95%CI: 0.09, 0.19 |
Very low carbohydrate diets | Meta-analysis of 12 mo or > studies, n = 5[25] | Weight outcomes same | No long term benefit | ||
Conclusion | No long term benefit | ||||
Very low calorie diet | Review of 12 studies[35] of VLCD vs behavioural program and diet change | VLCD was worth an additional 3.9 kg at 12 m and 1.4 kg at 24 m and 1.3 kg at 38-60 m. Dropouts were the same at 19%-20% which was lower than expected | Long term benefit seen | Worth trying with weight loss maintenance programs | |
Very low calorie diet | Single hospital based clinic n = 1109[36] | 19% still attending at 3 yr and the mean weight loss of this group was 6.4 kg. Weight loss was 7.7% vs 2.3% for drugs (topiramate plus phentermine or sibutramine) compared with no drugs | |||
Conclusion | Well worth trying if large weight loss required | ||||
Weight maintenance after VLCD | 8 European centres[38] 11% weight loss with VLCD after 8 wk Randomised to high or normal protein 25% vs 13% and high or low GI 15U different | Fewer participants in the high-protein and the low glycemic-index groups than in the low-protein–high-glycemic-index group dropped out of the study (26.4% and 25.6% vs 37.4%; P = 0.02 and P = 0.01) | The difference in weight regain after 1 yr[39] between protein groups was 2.0 (0.4, 3.6) kg (P = 0.017) (completers analysis, n = 139) or 2.8 (1.4, 4.1) kg (P < 0.001) (intention-to-treat analysis, n = 256) | In the shop centres (where food was provided) protein had a more powerful effect (2.7 kg compared with low protein, P < 0.001) while low GI had less effect (0.48 kg, NS) Protein may have modest long term weight maintenance effects | |
Weight maintenance after VLCD | 189 participants on VLCD for 3 mo then high or normal protein for 12 mo[40] | No difference between diets Weight regain over 9 mo was modest at 2 kg with a final weight loss of 14.5 kg overall. Overall dropout rate was 53% and compliance measures to the high protein diet were limited | Because compliance measures were limited conclusions on benefit (or absence of benefit) are limited | ||
Conclusions | Protein may be of some benefit, GI isn’t long term. More trials required | ||||
Intermittent energy restriction | 2 d partial fast and 5 normal days or alternate day fasting | Weight loss similar to CER over 3-6 mo[40-42,44,45] | No long term data | No additional metabolic benefit[47,48] | |
Conclusion | Insufficient data, no long term data. More work required | ||||
Glycemic index | 23 young adults[50] low GI ad lib vs Low fat diet with energy reduction of 250-500 kcal | Weight loss 7.8% vs 6.1% (NS) | Triglyceride was lowered by 37.2% and 19.1% (P = 0.005) at 6 mo with no difference at 12 mo. PAI-1 was lowered by 39% with the low GI diet vs a 33% rise (despite the weight loss) | ||
Glycemic index | 73 young adults low gIycemic load diet vs low fat diet[51] | No difference at 6, 12, 18 mo Insulin above the median (57.5 μIU/mL; n = 28) at 30 min of OGTT -5.8 vs -1.2 kg on low GL diet vs low fat diet (P = 0.004) and body fat percentage (-2.6% vs -0.9%; P = 0.03). No difference in insulin sensitive group | CVD risk markers the same | ||
Conclusion | Insufficient data for any conclusions | ||||
Mediterranean diet | Mediterranean vs low fat vs low carbohydrate diet in 322 people in a workplace setting[51] | Weight loss in the 272 completers was 2.9 kg for the low-fat group, 4.4 kg for the Mediterranean-diet group, and 4.7 kg for the low-carbohydrate group; a moderate reduction only (P < 0.001 for the interaction between diet group and time) | During 6 follow-up period, participants had regained 2.7 kg of weight lost in the low-fat group, 1.4 kg in the Mediterranean group, and 4.1 kg in the low-carbohydrate group (P = 0.004 for all comparisons) For the entire 6-yr period, the total weight loss was 0.6 kg in the low-fat group, 3.1 kg in the Mediterranean group, and 1.7 kg in the low-carbohydrate group (P = 0.01 for all comparisons) with the Mediterranean group and the low-carbohydrate group not different from each other (P = 0.22)[52] | ||
Conclusion | Mediterranean diet best long term and has the longest follow up along with VLCD | ||||
Low sugar diet | Meta-analysis of 30 trials and 38 cohorts[53] | Adults decrease in body weight (0.80 kg, 95%CI: 0.39 to 1.21; P < 0.001) Cohort studies sugar caused increase weight increase of 0.75 kg, 95%CI: 0.30 to 1.19; P = 0.001) Interventions in children SSB vs control beverage 1 kg (95%CI for the difference, -1.54 to -0.48)[54] | 12 mo difference in weight of 1.9 kg SSB vs water disappeared 12 mo after trial stopped[55] | ||
Conclusion | Strong evidence for the benefit of sugar reduction in beverages | ||||
Multicomponent | 33 RCTS of at least 1 yr’s duration[56] | Weight loss vs exercise 3.2 kg, 95%CI: -4.8 kg to -1.6 kg) Type of diet not important | Low-fat diets, some with meal replacements, with physical activity and behavior change training gave most effective long-term weight change in men (-5.2 kg after 4 yr) | ||
Multicomponent | Commercial weight loss programs[57] | Pooled results from five study arms in commercial weight management programs showed significant weight loss at 12 mo (-2.22 kg, 95%CI: -2.90 to -1.54) Two commercial weight loss arms (mean difference -6.83 kg, 95%CI: -8.39 to -5.26) GP interventions mean difference -0.45 kg, 95%CI: -1.34 to 0.43) | |||
Conclusion | Commercial plans of some value | ||||
Calcium | Meta-analysis of calcium RCTs | RCTs of about 600 overweight and obese individuals from 7 trials dietary calcium supplementation of about 1000 mg was associated with weight loss and fat loss of approximately 1 kg over 6 mo and had a greater effect in pre - than in postmenopausal women[59] | Calcium (1000 mg) and vitamin D after 3 yr of follow-up women with daily calcium intakes of < 1200 mg at baseline on supplements were 11% less likely to experience weight gain[61] | ||
Conclusion | Marginal effect only | ||||
Dairy | Meta-analysis of 27 trials of dairy added to energy restriction[62] Meta-analysis of added calcium or dairy without weight restriction-no effects seen[60] | A greater reduction in body weight [-1.16 kg (95%CI: -1.66 to -0.66), P < 0.001, I² = 11%, QR = high, n = 644) and body fat mass [-1.49 kg (95%CI: -2.06 to -0.92), P < 0.001, I² = 21%, n = 521, QR = high) smaller loss of lean mass of 0.36 kg (0.01, 0.71 kg), P = 0.04, I² = 64%, n = 651, QR = moderate) | No long term data | ||
Conclusion | Dairy may be useful component of a weight loss diet but does nothing by itself in the absence of weight loss |
Type of diet | Type of summary document | Effect size | Long term data | Recommendation | Risk markers |
Low glycemic index/low glycemic load | Canadian Trial of Carbohydrate in Diabetes[63] 12 mo study in 162 volunteers The HGI, LGI and LC diets contained 47% ± 1%, 52% ± 1% and 40% ± 1% energy carbohydrate; 30% ± 1%, 27% ± 1% and 40% ± 1% fat with GI 64 ± 0.4, 55 ± 0.4 and 59 ± 0.4 | No difference between diets | None | ||
Low glycemic index | Canadian low glycemic index diet study[64] in 210 participants with type 2 diabetes on hypoglycemic medication | No effect on weight | None | HbA1c lower buy 0.32% on low glycemic index diet compared with high fibre diet | |
No value in type 2 diabetes | |||||
All randomised diets in type 2 diabetes of 12 mo or more duration | Eleven trials[65] were identified with 6754 participants were reviewed. Eight trials compared different diets while 3 compared diets to usual care. Only two study groups reported a weight loss of ≥ 5%: A Mediterranean-style diet implemented in newly diagnosed adults with type 2 diabetes and an intensive lifestyle intervention implemented in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) trial | ||||
Conclusion | Mediterranean diet best | ||||
Look ahead study | The Look Ahead Study[66] enrolled 5145, aged 45-74 yr, with BMI > 25 (> 27 if taking insulin) into a weight loss (with meal replacements if required) and exercise intervention | The Intensive lifestyle intervention produced an 8.6% weight loss at 1 yr vs 0.7% in control group | At 4 yr weight was still 5.3% lower compared with control. Weight loss of 10% or more at 8 yr in 27% of the intensive lifestyle group with 50% achieving more than 5% weight loss[70] support and education control group achieved a weight loss of 10% or more in 17% of the group with 5% or more weight loss achieved by 36% | Mean HbA1c dropped from 7.3% to 6.6% At 4 yr HbA1c-0.27% lower Post hoc analysis in the whole population (4834) over 10 yr[72] showed that those who lost at least 10% of their body weight in the first year had a 21% lower (HR 0.79, 95%CI: 0.64-0.98, P = 0.034) risk of primary outcome (death from CVD, MI, stroke, admission for angina), and a 24% reduced risk of the secondary outcome (primary plus CABG, carotid endarterectomy, stent, heart failure, PVD or total mortality) (adjusted HR 0.76, 95%CI: 0.63-0.91; P = 0.003) | |
Conclusion | Only non-surgical weight loss study with reduction in hard end points | ||||
Atkins diet | A 6-mo study from one group of Atkins vs calorie-reduced low GI diet in volunteers with a BMI 38, of whom 80% were women[76] | Body weight fell by 11.1 kg vs 6.9 kg, P = 0.008 58.3% (49) participants completing | HbA1c was reduced by -1.5% vs -0.5% (P = 0.03) LDL was higher in the Atkins group by 4% | ||
Atkins diet | 48w study[77] comparing an Atkins diet to a low fat diet plus orlistat in which 32% of the volunteers had type 2 diabetes (n = 46) | Weight loss 8.65% to 9.5% with no differences between groups | |||
South Beach diet | 80 volunteers completed a 12 mo very low carbohydrate diet vs an energy matched high carbohydrate diet[34,78] | 9.8 and 10.1 kg at 12 mo | Hba1c changes different at 6 mo but not at 12.1% reduction | ||
Conclusions | Low carbohydrate diets good in short term with intensive support | ||||
VLCD | Meta-analysis of 5 studies of VLCD in volunteers with diabetes or no diabetes[80] | Weekly weight loss was similar in the two groups at 0.5 to 0.6 kg/wk. Weight losses of > 15%-20% were observed in these studies | |||
VLCD | Retrospective analysis of 355 patients with diabetes matched with nondiabetics | After 12 wk, there was significant weight loss within each group when compared with baseline (T2DM: 115.0 ± 24.4 kg vs 96.7 ± 21.4 kg, P < 0.0001; non-T2DM: 117.2 ± 25.8 kg vs 97.3 ± 22.2 kg, P < 0.0001) | No long term data available | ||
Total cohort comprised 204 males: 506 females, age 54.0 ± 9.1; BMI 41.6 ± 8.1; weight 116.1 ± 25.1 kg[81] | At 12 wk, weight change (-18.3 ± 7.3 kg vs -19.9 ± 7.0 kg, P = 0.012) were significantly less in the T2DM group when compared with the non-T2DM group | ||||
VLCD | 40 individuals with type 2 diabetes and no control group | Weight loss of 10 kg at 1 yr after an 8 wk VLCD. Five year data from a comparison of self-selected VLCD (15) to modest caloric restriction (n = 15) showed better weight loss in the conventional diet 8.9 kg vs 4.8 kg[83] Early use of VLCD can cause remission of type 2 diabetes[84] | Long term data shows benefit | VLCD useful | |
Conclusion | Although expensive VLCD has long term benefits | ||||
Diet plus exercise | 2 controlled studies adding aerobic or resistance exercise to significant weight loss over 12 to 16 wk[86,87] | No additional benefit of adding exercise on weight | No long term data | No additional benefit on HbA1c or any other markers | |
Conclusions | No added benefit |
- Citation: Clifton P. Assessing the evidence for weight loss strategies in people with and without type 2 diabetes. World J Diabetes 2017; 8(10): 440-454
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/1948-9358/full/v8/i10/440.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v8.i10.440