Abstract
We conducted a systematic review of the available studies that assessed the effect
of a Mediterranean diet in type 2 diabetes. We searched publications up to 30 November
2009. Seventeen studies were included. Two large prospective studies report a substantially
lower risk (83% and 35%, respectively) of type 2 diabetes in healthy people or in
post-infarct patients with the highest adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Five randomized
controlled trials have evaluated the effects of a Mediterranean diet, as compared
with other commonly used diets, on indices of glycaemic control in subjects with type
2 diabetes. Improvement of fasting glucose and HbA1c levels was greater with a Mediterranean
diet and ranged from 7 to 40 mg/dl for fasting glucose, and from 0.1 to 0.6% for HbA1c. No trial reported worsening
of glycaemic control with a Mediterranean diet. Two controlled trials in a secondary
prevention setting demonstrated that post-infarct patients, including diabetic patients,
had cardiovascular benefits from a Mediterranean diet. The evidence so far accumulated
suggests that adopting a Mediterranean diet may help prevent type 2 diabetes, and
also improve glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk in persons with established
diabetes.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 26, 2010
Accepted:
April 26,
2010
Received in revised form:
April 21,
2010
Received:
February 15,
2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
