Can we prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension,
stroke, coronary heart disease and cancer?
The following study is my favorite [1]. 208 apparently healthy, nonobese (body mass index < 30 kg/m2) individuals were divided into tertiles of insulin resistance at baseline and followed for a mean period of 6.3 years. Clinical endpoints (above-mentioned chronic diseases; n = 40) were identified in 37 individuals (18%) of those evaluated, including 12 with hypertension, 3 with hypertension + type 2 diabetes, 9 with cancer, 7 with coronary heart disease, 4 with stroke, and 2 with type 2 diabetes. Twenty-eight out of the total 40 clinical events were seen in 25 individuals (36%) in the most insulin-resistant tertile, while the other 12 occurred in the group with an intermediate degree of insulin resistance. Surprisingly, no clinical events were observed in the most insulin-sensitive tertile.
A randomized controlled diet intervention study [2] showed that low-carb diet (LCD) improved insulin-resistance to a greater extent than low-fat diet (LFD) in 40 patients with metabolic syndrome. The target percentages of energy derived from macronutrients were as follows: study diet: carbohydrate 12%, fat 59%, protein 28% (LCD); control diet: carbohydrate 56%, fat 24%, protein 20%(LFD). After 12 weeks, LCD group had significantly greater reduction [- 55%] in HOMA (Homeostasis model assessment, a measure of insulin resistance) compared with LFD group [- 18%]. The authors concluded that LCD is a more effective diet for improving insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk compared with LFD.
Since insulin-resistance has been shown by Facchini et al [1] to be an independent predictor of hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and type 2 DM, carbohydrate restriction, by improving insulin resistance, could prevent the occurrence of these chronic diseases better than LFD.
References:
[1] Facchini FS, Hua N, Abbasi F, et al: Insulin Resistance as a Predictor of Age-Related Diseases. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001; 86: 3574–3578.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/79367435/LCD/IR%20Predict%20ds_2001%20-%20flattened.pdf
[2] Volek JS, Phinney SD, Forsythe CE, et al.: Carbohydrate restriction has a more favorable impact on the metabolic syndrome than a low fat diet. Lipids (2009) 44:297-309.
A randomized controlled diet intervention study [2] showed that low-carb diet (LCD) improved insulin-resistance to a greater extent than low-fat diet (LFD) in 40 patients with metabolic syndrome. The target percentages of energy derived from macronutrients were as follows: study diet: carbohydrate 12%, fat 59%, protein 28% (LCD); control diet: carbohydrate 56%, fat 24%, protein 20%(LFD). After 12 weeks, LCD group had significantly greater reduction [- 55%] in HOMA (Homeostasis model assessment, a measure of insulin resistance) compared with LFD group [- 18%]. The authors concluded that LCD is a more effective diet for improving insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk compared with LFD.
Since insulin-resistance has been shown by Facchini et al [1] to be an independent predictor of hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and type 2 DM, carbohydrate restriction, by improving insulin resistance, could prevent the occurrence of these chronic diseases better than LFD.
References:
[1] Facchini FS, Hua N, Abbasi F, et al: Insulin Resistance as a Predictor of Age-Related Diseases. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2001; 86: 3574–3578.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/79367435/LCD/IR%20Predict%20ds_2001%20-%20flattened.pdf
[2] Volek JS, Phinney SD, Forsythe CE, et al.: Carbohydrate restriction has a more favorable impact on the metabolic syndrome than a low fat diet. Lipids (2009) 44:297-309.