Intensive Food-as-Medicine Program fails to improve Glycemic control in diabetes patients: JAMA

The program offered healthy groceries for ten meals/week, plus consultations, evaluations, coaching, and diabetes education for a year. The primary outcome was HbA1c at six months, with secondary outcomes including biometric measures, healthcare use, and self-reported diet/healthy behaviours at 6 and 12 months

The summary of this study includes the following points:

· Of 3712 patients assessed, 3168 were contacted, 1064 were deemed eligible, 500 consented and were randomized, and 465 patients completed the study.

· Of these, 349 patients had laboratory test results at six months. Both treatment and control groups experienced a decline in HbA1c levels, resulting in a non-significant adjusted mean difference of -0.10.

· Access to the program increased preventive health care, including more dietitian visits, active prescription drug orders for metformin and glucagon-like peptide one medication, and participants reporting improved diets.

This clinical trial showed that an intensive food-as-medicine program improved engagement with preventive health care but didn't affect glycemic control compared to usual care. Control groups are necessary to demonstrate effectiveness in programs targeting individuals with elevated biomarkers. More research is needed to design food-as-medicine programs that improve health.

Reference:

Doyle J et al.Effect of an Intensive Food-as-Medicine Program on Health and Health Care Use: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med.