Analysing the benefits of low carb diet for people with diabetes

Carbohydrate restriction can exert a significant and important reduction on levels of cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes, a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials has shown. Levels of most cardiometabolic outcomes decreased linearly with the decrease in carbohydrate intake.

The research team aimed to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the dose-dependent effects of carbohydrate restriction on glycemic control and levels of traditional cardiometabolic risk factors in adults with existing type 2 diabetes.

They systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to May 2021 for randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of a carbohydrate-restricted diet in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Fifty trials with 4291 patients were identified. At 6 months, compared with a carbohydrate intake between 55%–65% and through a maximum reduction down to 10%, each 10% reduction in carbohydrate intake reduced HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and body weight. There were also reductions in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, TG, and systolic blood pressure.

Levels of HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, body weight, TG, and systolic blood pressure decreased linearly with the decrease in carbohydrate intake from 65% to 10%. A U-shaped effect was seen for total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, with the greatest reduction at 40%. At 12 months, a linear reduction was seen for HbA1c and TG. A U-shaped effect was seen for body weight, with the greatest reduction at 35%.

Reference: Ahmad Jayedi, Sheida Zeraattalab-Motlagh, Bahareh Jabbarzadeh, Yasaman Hosseini, Aliyu Tijen Jibril, Hossein Shahinfar, Amin Mirrafiei, Fatemeh Hosseini, Sakineh Shab-Bidar,Dose-dependent effect of carbohydrate restriction for type 2 diabetes management: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 116, Issue 1,2022, Pages 40-56, ISSN 0002-9165, (https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac066)