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ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA. The optimum diet for type 2 diabetes patients has long been a subject of
considerable controversy. Some researchers advocate a diet high in complex carbohydrates while others
contend that a diet high in protein is superior.Researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization have just released the
results of a study, which shows that a high protein diet is superior to a high carbohydrate diet. The study
involved 54 obese men and women with type 2 diabetes who were fed either a high protein (HP) or a low
protein (LP) diet for eight weeks. The HP diet provided 30 per cent of energy from protein, 40 per cent from
carbohydrates, and the remainder from fat. The LP diet provided 15 per cent of energy from protein and 60
per cent from carbohydrates. The fat portion consisted of 8 per cent saturated fatty acids, 12 per cent
monounsaturated fatty acids, and 5 per cent polyunsaturated fatty acids. The diet was energy restricted
(1600 kcal/day) for the first eight weeks and balanced for the following four weeks.
At the end of the trial, participants had lost an average of 5.2 kg (11 lbs). Women on the HP diet lost
significantly more fat (5.3 versus 2.8 kg) than did women on the LP diet and the fat loss was particularly
pronounced in the abdominal area. Both men and women experienced a 5.7 per cent (average) reduction in
LDL ("bad") cholesterol on the HP diet as compared to only a 2.7 per cent reduction on the LP diet. Total
cholesterol levels also declined significantly more in the HP group than in the LP group. Both groups also
saw a significant drop in fasting and 2-hour insulin concentrations. The researchers conclude that the high
protein diet is a valid choice for patients with type 2 diabetes and may actually reduce their risk of
cardiovascular disease by 10 per cent.
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