Highlights
- •Trials in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus revealed inconsistent results.
- •This meta-analysis is the first one to evaluate the efficacy of low carbohydrate diet for type 2 diabetes management.
- •The low carbohydrate diet intervention had a positive effect on HbA1c, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol concentrations.
- •Short term intervention of low carbohydrate diet was effective for weight loss.
Abstract
Aims
The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to assess the efficacy
of Low Carbohydrate Diet (LCD) compared with a normal or high carbohydrate diet in
patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library database for randomized controlled
trials. Researches which reported the change in weight loss, blood glucose, and blood
lipid levels were included.
Results
A total of 9 studies with 734 patients with diabetes were included. Pooled results
suggested that LCD had a significantly effect on HbA1c level (WMD: −0.44; 95% CI:
−0.61, −0.26; P = 0.00). For cardiovascular risk factors, the LCD intervention significantly reduced
triglycerides concentration (WMD: −0.33; 95% CI: −0.45, −0.21; P = 0.00) and increased HDL cholesterol concentration (WMD: 0.07; 95% CI: 0.03, 0.11;
P = 0.00). But the LCD was not associated with decreased level of total cholesterol and
LDL cholesterol. Subgroup analyses indicated that short term intervention of LCD was
effective for weight loss (WMD: −1.18; 95% CI: −2.32, −0.04; P = 0.04).
Conclusions
The results suggested a beneficial effect of LCD intervention on glucose control in
patients with type 2 diabetes. The LCD intervention also had a positive effect on
triglycerides and HDL cholesterol concentrations, but without significant effect on
long term weight loss.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 07, 2017
Accepted:
July 3,
2017
Received in revised form:
June 7,
2017
Received:
March 11,
2017
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
