An Okinawan-based Nordic diet improves anthropometry, metabolic control, and health-related quality of life in Scandinavian patients with type 2 diabetes: a pilot trial

• Published in: Food & nutrition research Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 32594 - 15
• Main Authors: Darwiche, Gassan, Höglund, Peter, Roth, Bodil, Larsson, Ewa, Sjöberg, Trygve, Wohlfart, Björn, Steen, Stig, Ohlsson, Bodil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden Taylor & Francis 01.01.2016; Swedish Nutrition Foundation, SNF; Co-Action Publishing; Swedish Nutrition Foundation
• Subjects: Anthropometry; Blood glucose; Blood pressure; Body mass; Body mass index; Body measurements; Body size; Body weight; Cholesterol; Density; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes mellitus (non-insulin dependent); Diet; Exercise; Food; Glucose; Health; Health care; Health risk assessment; Heart; Hemoglobin; Homeostasis; Insulin; Insulin resistance; interventional study; kosthold; metabolic control; Metabolism; Nordic diet; Obesity; Okinawan diet; Original; Patients; Peptides; Physical fitness; Population; Quality of life; Reduction; Triglycerides; type 2 diabetes; Urine; Weight control; Weight reduction; Japan; Okinawa; Nordic diet; metabolic control; type 2 diabetes; anthropometry; Okinawan diet; interventional study; quality of life
• ISSN: 1654-6628; 1654-661X; 1654-661X
• DOI: 10.3402/fnr.v60.32594

Our hypothesis was that a modified diet would improve blood glucose control with beneficial impact on weight management and overall health in established diabetes. This prospective interventional study investigated the clinical effect of an Okinawan-based Nordic diet on anthropometry, metabolic control, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Scandinavian type 2 diabetes patients. Food was prepared and delivered to 30 type 2 diabetes patients. Clinical information along with data on HRQoL, blood samples, and urine samples were collected during 12 weeks of diet interventions, with follow-up 16 weeks after diet completion. After 12 weeks of dietary intervention, a reduction in body weight (7%) (p<0.001), body mass index (p<0.001), and waist circumference (7.0 cm) (p<0.001) was seen. Improved levels of proinsulin (p=0.005), insulin (p=0.011), and fasting plasma glucose (p<0.001) were found already after 2 weeks; these improved levels remained after 12 weeks when lowered levels of C-peptide (p=0.015), triglycerides (p=0.009), total cholesterol (p=0.001), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p=0.041) were also observed. Insulin resistance homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance was lowered throughout the study, with a 20% reduction in hemoglobin A1c levels (p<0.001) at week 12, despite reduced anti-diabetes treatment. Lowered systolic blood pressure (9.6 mmHg) (p<0.001), diastolic blood pressure (2.7 mmHg) (p<0.001), and heart and respiratory rates (p<0.001) were accompanied by decreased cortisol levels (p=0.015) and improvement in HRQoL. At follow-up, increased levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were found (p=0.003). This interventional study demonstrates a considerable improvement of anthropometric and metabolic parameters and HRQoL in Scandinavian type 2 diabetes patients when introducing a modified Okinawan-based Nordic diet, independently of exercise or other interventions. Through these dietary changes, anti-diabetes treatment could be decreased or cancelled.