52% Reduction in Diabetes Incidence Without Weight Loss

New PREDIMED Data: Mediterranean Diet Halves Incidence of New-Onset Diabetes

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By Lisa Nainggolan

Medscape Family Medicine

October 15, 2010 (Reus, Spain) — Use of the Mediterranean diet among nondiabetics at high cardiovascular risk halved the incidence of new-onset diabetes over four years compared with a low-fat diet, new research shows. This is the first randomized clinical trial to look specifically at the use of the Mediterranean diet for the prevention of diabetes, say Dr Jordi Salas-Salvadó (Human Nutrition Unit, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Reus, Spain) and colleagues in their paper published online October 7, 2010, in Diabetes Care.

And of note, “the diabetes risk reduction occurred in the absence of significant changes in body weight or physical activity, so the reduction can be attributed only to the diet, not to weight loss,” Salas-Salvadó told heartwire; he added that energy restriction was not advised in the trial, nor was physical activity promoted. “The findings indicate that a non–energy-restricted traditional Mediterranean diet high in unsaturated fat could be a useful tool for preventing diabetes,” he says.

The new paper by Salas-Salvadó and colleagues is a nested substudy of Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED), which is a multicenter, randomized, parallel-group primary-prevention trial that is ongoing in Spain to assess the effects of two Mediterranean diets–supplemented with either extra virgin olive oil or mixed nuts–vs a low-fat diet as a control group on cardiovascular and other chronic-disease outcomes in persons at high cardiovascular risk.

Mediterranean diets: its impact on new-onset Diabetes incidence

Mediterranean diet with abundant use of olive oil

This substudy, PREDIMED-Reus, was conducted in the only one of the Spanish centers of the overall trial to require a yearly oral glucose tolerance test in nondiabetic individuals as part of the protocol. In this study, 418 nondiabetic subjects aged 55 to 80 years were randomized to the low-fat diet (control group), or one of two Mediterranean diets supplemented with either free virgin olive oil (1 L/week) or nuts (30 g/day). Diets were without limits, and no advice on physical activity was given. The main outcome was diabetes incidence as diagnosed by the 2009 ADA criteria.

The principal components defining a traditional Mediterranean diet, which were recommended in the present study, are:

  • Abundant use of olive oil for cooking and dressing.
  • Increased consumption of fruit, vegetables, legumes, and fish.
  • Reduction in total meat consumption, recommending white meat instead of red or processed meat.
  • Preparation of homemade sauce with tomato, garlic, onion, and spices with olive oil to dress vegetables, pasta, rice, and other dishes.
  • Avoidance of butter, cream, fast-food, sweets, pastries, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
  • In alcohol drinkers, moderate consumption of red wine

“Good News”: A 52% Reduction in Diabetes Incidence Without Weight Loss

After a median follow-up of four years, diabetes incidence was 10.1%, 11.0%, and 17.9% in the Mediterranean-diet-with-olive-oil group, the Mediterranean-diet-with-nuts group, and the control group, respectively.

Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of diabetes were 0.49 and 0.48 in the Mediterranean-diet groups supplemented with olive oil and nuts, respectively, compared with the control group. When pooling the two Mediterranean-diet groups compared with the control group, diabetes incidence was reduced by 52%. In all study arms, increased adherence to the Mediterranean diet was inversely associated with diabetes incidence.

Asked to explain the findings, given that there was no weight loss among participants, Salas-Salvadó said it has been observed that monounsaturated fats (from olive oil and nuts) are less oxidized and contribute to reduced insulin resistance. “Also, some of the components of the Mediterranean diet are very rich in antioxidant compounds, with important anti-inflammatory effects. It is now well recognized that chronic low-grade inflammation and a pro-oxidation status are pathogenic factors in diabetes,” he says.

“These results extend those of prior studies showing that lifestyle interventions can substantially reduce the incidence of diabetes,” he adds. “Education of the population on the Mediterranean diet might be a safe public-health approach to delay or prevent the development of diabetes, as well as that of other prevalent chronic diseases.”

Dunbar said these new findings “are good news. Studies have certainly been pointing to the Mediterranean diet for weight loss by itself, even in people who don’t have diabetes. This is further evidence that this is a really healthy eating pattern.”

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Ashraf Ezzat is an Egyptian born in Cairo and based in Alexandria. He graduated from the faculty of Medicine at Alexandria University. Keen not to be entirely consumed by the medical profession, Dr. Ezzat invests a lot of his time in research and writing. History of the ancient Near East and of Ancient Egypt has long been an area of special interest to him. In his writings, he approaches ancient history not as some tales from the remote times but as a causative factor in our existing life; and to him, it's as relevant and vibrant as the current moment. In his research and writings, Dr. Ezzat is always on a quest trying to find out why the ancient wisdom had been obstructed and ancient spirituality diminished whereas the Judeo-Christian teachings and faith took hold and prospered. Dr. Ezzat has written extensively in Arabic tackling many issues and topics in the field of Egyptology and comparative religion. He is the author of Egypt knew no Pharaohs nor Israelites. He writes regularly at many well-known online websites such as Dissident Voice and What Really Happened. Dr. Ezzat is also an independent filmmaker. His debut film was back in 2011 The Annals of Egypt Revolution and in 2012 he made Tale of Osiris a short animation for children. In 2013 his short The Pyramids: story of creation was screened at many international film festivals in Europe. And he is working now on his first documentary "Egypt knew no Pharaohs nor Israelites".