carbohydrate diet has a favourable impact on low-grade inflammation in type 2 diabetes compared with advice to follow a low-fat diet

http://informahealthcare.com/doi/full/10.3109/07853890.2014.894286
or
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/07853890.2014.894286 

Background. 

Infl ammation may play an important role in type 2 diabetes. It has been proposed that dietary strategies can modulate infl ammatory activity. Methods. We investigated the eff ects of diet on infl ammation in type 2 diabetes by comparing a traditional low-fat diet (LFD) with a low-carbohydrate diet (LCD). Patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to follow either LFD aiming for 55 – 60 energy per cent (E%) from carbohydrates ( n 30) or LCD aiming for 20 E% from carbohydrates ( n 29). Plasma was collected at baseline and after 6 months. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), IL-6, tumour necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) 1 and TNFR2 were determined.

Results. 

Both LFD and LCD led to similar reductions in body weight, while benefi cial eff ects on glycaemic control were observed in the LCD group only. After 6 months, the levels of IL-1Ra and IL-6 were
signifi cantly lower in the LCD group than in the LFD group, 978 (664 – 1385) versus 1216 (974 – 1822) pg/mL and 2.15 (1.65 – 4.27) versus 3.39 (2.25 – 4.79) pg/mL, both P 0.05.

Conclusions. 

To conclude, advice to follow LCD or LFD had similar eff ects on weight reduction while eff ects on infl ammation diff ered. Only LCD was found signifi cantly to improve the
subclinical infl ammatory state in type 2 diabetes.
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Key messages

• In type 2 diabetes, randomization to advice to follow a low-carbohydrate diet or a low-fat diet had
similar eff ects on weight reduction, while eff ects on infl ammation diff ered.
• Aft er 6 months, the low-carbohydrate diet, but not the low-fat diet, had a favourable impact on low-grade infl ammation in type 2 diabetes.