Low-carb/high-fat diets for weight loss may actually increase risk of type 2 diabetes

The global trend towards low-carb, high-fat diets for weight loss may increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes by 20%, according to a 17-year study of nearly 40,000 people in Melbourne.

Published in the magazine Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Trials and Reviews, study The study, conducted by Monash University and RMIT University researchers, led by Distinguished Professor Barbora de Courten OAM and PhD student Robel Kabthymer, is likely to lead to a revision of dietary approaches for those looking to lose weight and avoid diabetes.

Around 1.3 million Australians, or one in twenty, have diabetes, although the true figure is thought to be higher because of undiagnosed disease.

The study used data from nearly 40,000 Melbourne residents aged 40 to 69 who participated in the Melbourne Cohort Study (MCCS) between 1990 and 1994. Their health was then examined in 1995 to 1998 and 2003 to 2007.

The Monash and RMIT team analysed the percentage of carbohydrate in the diet to reveal its association with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

The Low Carb Score (LCS) was initially calculated as the percentage of energy coming from carbohydrates, fat, and protein. The higher the score, the lower the percentage contributed by carbohydrates. energy intake. Specifically, the study found that those whose diets were 38% carbohydrates had a 20% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those whose diets were 55% carbohydrates. The study suggests that this increased risk of diabetes is due to increased cases of obesity.

According to Professor de Courten, this study is the first to look at the long-term effects of a low dose. carbohydrate Diet in chronic diseases using Australian data.

“We know that high-carb diets that are highly processed, low in fiber, and high in refined sugar can lead to weight gain. What’s more, highly refined carbohydrates are linked to increased insulin secretion And insulin resistance“This leads to type 2 diabetes,” he said.

“However, studies to date have only focused on examining low carb for the management and/or remission of type 2 diabetes. Instead, this study suggests that intake of a low-carb diet may increase the long-term risk of type 2 diabetes through obesity, potentially through greater consumption of foods low in fat and fibre. Our study also highlights the need to look at the quality of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.”

Therefore, a balanced diet rich in fiber, healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats, and minimally processed carbohydrates, combined with adequate protein intake from fish and seafood, white meat, and legumes, as seen in the Mediterranean diet, may be the most appropriate dietary pattern for preventing type 2 diabetes. diabetes.