A High Protein Diet Is More Effective in Improving Insulin Resistance and Glycemic Variability Compared to a Mediterranean Diet-A Cross-Over Controlled Inpatient Dietary Study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of a high-protein (HP) diet versus a Mediterranean (M) diet on metabolic parameters, particularly insulin resistance and glycemic variability, in insulin-resistant obese women.
Results Summary
The HP diet was more effective than the M diet in reducing insulin resistance (lower insulin levels and HOMA-IR) and improving glycemic variability. A panel of 10 microbial genera, including Coprococcus and Lachnoclostridium, was identified as predictive of the difference in glycemic variability between the diets.
Population
Insulin-resistant, obese women (n=16 completed the study).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
21 days (crossover trial with two dietary sequences: M-HP or HP-M)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high protein (HP) diet | decrease | insulin resistance (insulin) | insulin-resistant obese women | -6.98 (-12.30, -1.65) µIU/mL | more effective in reducing | #1 |
high protein (HP) diet | decrease | insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) | insulin-resistant obese women | -1.78 (95% CI: -3.03, -0.52) | more effective in reducing | #2 |
high protein (HP) diet | decrease | glycemic variability | insulin-resistant obese women | -3.13 (-4.60, -1.67) mg/dL | improving | #3 |
high protein (HP) diet | decrease | insulin resistance | morbidly obese women with insulin resistance | - | can achieve better control of | #4 |
high protein (HP) diet | decrease | glycemic variability | morbidly obese women with insulin resistance | - | can achieve better control of | #5 |
The optimal dietary pattern to improve metabolic function remains elusive. In a 21-day randomized controlled inpatient crossover feeding trial of 20 insulin-resistant obese women, we assessed the extent to which two isocaloric dietary interventions-Mediterranean (M) and high protein (HP)-improved metabolic parameters. Obese women were assigned to one of the following dietary sequences: M-HP or HP-M. Cardiometabolic parameters, body weight, glucose monitoring and gut microbiome composition were assessed. Sixteen women completed the study. Compared to the M diet, the HP diet was more effective in (i) reducing insulin resistance (insulin: Beta (95% CI) = -6.98 (-12.30, -1.65) µIU/mL, p = 0.01; HOMA-IR: -1.78 (95% CI: -3.03, -0.52), p = 9 × 10-3); and (ii) improving glycemic variability (-3.13 (-4.60, -1.67) mg/dL, p = 4 × 10-4), a risk factor for T2D development. We then identified a panel of 10 microbial genera predictive of the difference in glycemic variability between the two diets. These include the genera Coprococcus and Lachnoclostridium, previously associated with glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance. Our results suggest that morbidly obese women with insulin resistance can achieve better control of insulin resistance and glycemic variability on a high HP diet compared to an M diet.