Almond based low carbohydrate diet may improve depression in Diabetics: Study

Written By : Dr.Niharika Harsha B |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2020-10-10T10:28:41+05:30 | Updated On 10 Oct 2020 11:18 AM IST

A low carbohydrate diet (LCD) is more beneficial for the glycometabolism in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and may be effective in reducing depression.

A recent study found that almond based low carbohydrate diet exerts a beneficial effect on depression and glycometabolism in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The study was published in the journal "Nutrients" in 2020.

Type 2 Diabetes is a multifactorial disease, causing a huge burden on the health of individuals. It is characterized by glycometabolism abnormalities. Diabetes is also associated with mental health-related disorders like depression. Previous research has established the association of Type 2 Diabetes and depression. Nutrition plays an important role in controlling diabetes and improving glycometabolism. A low carbohydrate diet is important for glycometabolism. A very commonly available and edible nut Almond is found to improve hyperglycemia and depression symptoms.

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Researchers from China, USA, and the UK conducted a study to determine the effect of an almond-based Low carbohydrate diet (a-LCD) on depression and glycometabolism, as well as gut microbiota and fasting glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in patients with T2DM. The study was a randomized controlled trial that compared an a-LCD with a low-fat diet (LFD). Forty-five participants with T2DM at a diabetes club and the Endocrine Division of the First and Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between December 2018 to December 2019 completed each dietary intervention for 3 months. Participants were randomly divided into two groups with 22 in the a-LCD group and 23 in the LFD group. The indicators for depression and biochemical indicators including glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), gut microbiota, and GLP-1 concentration were assessed at the baseline and third month and compared between the two groups.

The principal findings of the study were:

• A-LCD significantly improved depression and HbA1c (p <0.01).

• Meanwhile, a-LCD significantly increased the short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs)-producing bacteria Roseburia, Ruminococcus, and Eubacterium.

• The Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) concentration in the a-LCD group was higher than that in the LFD group (p <0.05).

Thus, the researchers concluded that Almond rich Low carbohydrate diet could exert a beneficial effect on depression and glycometabolism in patients with T2DM. They also speculated that the role of a-LCD in improving depression in patients with T2DM may be associated with it stimulating the growth of Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, increasing SCFAs production and G-protein coupled receptor 43 activation, and further maintaining Glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion. The authors also suggested future studies, where SCFAs and GPR43 activation should be further examined.

The study "An Almond-Based Low Carbohydrate Diet Improves Depression and Glycometabolism in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes through Modulating Gut Microbiota and GLP-1: A Randomized Controlled Trial" was published in the journal "Nutrients" in 2020.

For further reading, click the following link: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12103036

type-2-diabetesdepressionLow carbohydrate dietAlmond based low carbohydrate diet

Source : Nutrients

Dr.Niharika Harsha B

BDS, MDS

Dr.Niharika Harsha B (BDS,MDS) completed her BDS from Govt Dental College, Hyderabad and MDS from Dr.NTR University of health sciences(Now Kaloji Rao University). She has 4 years of private dental practice and worked for 2 years as Consultant Oral Radiologist at a Dental Imaging Centre in Hyderabad. She worked as Research Assistant and scientific writer in the development of Oral Anti cancer screening device with her seniors. She has a deep intriguing wish in writing highly engaging, captivating and informative medical content for a wider audience. She can be contacted at editorial@medicaldialogues.in.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751