China: Low-carbohydrate ketogenic (VLCK) diet treatment to lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is not associated with increased levels of total cholesterol and LDL, and decreased HDL levels, reveals recent study. Further, the diet is shown to achieve a short-term reduction of triglyceride levels. The study appears in the journal Nutricion Hospitalaria.
Meijuan Li and Jingyun Yuan from Zhejiang University conducted the study with an objective to evaluate the lipid metabolism of patients with T2DM after VLCK diet treatment, with an order to provide an evidence-based basis for better dietary management and comprehensive treatment of diabetes patients.
For this purpose, the researchers searched the online databases for randomized controlled trial about VLCK diet on lipid metabolism of T2DM up to September 2021. Data analysis was done using the Stata 15.0; standardized mean difference (SMD) was used as effect size. A total of ten articles were included in this meta-analysis.
Based on the study, the researchers revealed the following:
There were no significant differences between the two groups in total cholesterol (SMD = -0.07), HDL (SMD = 0.13) and LDL (SMD = 0.07) levels after treatment.
No difference was found in total cholesterol, HDL, and LDL levels between the two groups after 3, 6, and 12 months of treatment.
Triglyceride levels decreased after VLCK diet compared with control (SMD = -0.49).
A marked reduction of triglyceride levels was identified after 3 months of VLCK diet treatment (SMD = -0.69), without significant difference after 6 and 12 months.
To conclude, patients with type 2 diabetes who receive a VLCK diet are not associated with increased levels of total cholesterol and LDL, and decreased levels of HDL. The researchers wrote that, "additionally, this diet can achieve a short-term reduction of triglyceride levels."
Reference:
Li M, Yuan J. Effects of very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet on lipid metabolism in patients with type II diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis. Nutr Hosp. 2022 Mar 4. English. doi: 10.20960/nh.03987. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35243868.
KEYWORDS: type 2 diabetes, very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet, diet, low carb, cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglyceride, lipids, metabolism, Nutricion Hospitalaria, ketogenic, blood sugar, Meijuan Li, Jingyun Yuan