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A reduced carbohydrate diet improves glycemic regulation in hyperglycemic older people in a retirement home: the SAGE study.

Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism = Physiologie appliquee, nutrition et metabolisme
January 1, 2025
Camille Vandenberghe et al. (9 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the metabolic effects of a 32% reduced carbohydrate diet (RCHO) on older individuals in a retirement home, focusing on glucose regulation and related biomarkers.

Results Summary

The RCHO diet significantly decreased average blood glucose and time spent in hyperglycemia, improved glycated hemoglobin levels, and increased plasma ketones in hyperglycemic participants, demonstrating metabolic benefits. The diet was also confirmed as safe, tolerable, and acceptable in the studied population.

Population

Older individuals (N=24) living in a retirement home.

Effective Dosage

Not specified (dietary intervention, not a supplement).

Duration

2 months.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (8)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
diet reduced in carbohydrate by 32% (RCHO)
decrease
average blood glucose
hyperglycemic participants
7.8 ± 1.0 vs 7.5 ± 1.1 mM
decreased
#1
diet reduced in carbohydrate by 32% (RCHO)
decrease
average blood glucose
hyperglycemic participants
7.8 ± 1.0 vs 7.0 ± 0.9 mM
decreased
#2
diet reduced in carbohydrate by 32% (RCHO)
decrease
percentage of time spent in hyperglycemia (>10.0 mM)
hyperglycemic participants
by 50%
decreased
#3
diet reduced in carbohydrate by 32% (RCHO)
decrease
percentage of time spent in hyperglycemia (>10.0 mM)
hyperglycemic participants
by 66%
decreased
#4
diet reduced in carbohydrate by 32% (RCHO)
decrease
Glycated hemoglobin
hyperglycemic and normoglycemic participants
-
significantly lower
#5
diet reduced in carbohydrate by 32% (RCHO)
increase
Plasma ketones
hyperglycemic participants
threefold
increased
#6
diet reduced in carbohydrate by 32% (RCHO)
increase
metabolic health
older population
-
has metabolic health benefits
#7
diet reduced in carbohydrate by 32% (RCHO)
no change
safety, tolerability, and acceptability
older population living in a retirement home (RH)
-
confirms its safety, tolerability, and acceptability
#8
Abstract

Poor glucose regulation associated with gradual insulin resistance is a significant risk factor in several age-related chronic diseases. An eating plan that promotes a lower carbohydrate intake may have a beneficial effect on glucose metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate how a diet reduced in carbohydrate by 32% (RCHO) over a 2 month period would influence the metabolic profile of older individuals (N = 24) living in a retirement home (RH). A continuous glucose monitor was used to measure blood glucose during four periods: the standard diet before (baseline) and after (washout) the intervention, during the 4 initial days of the RCHO diet (RCHO-early), and the final days of the 2 month intervention (RCHO-end). The blood metabolic profile was also measured (glucose, ketones, insulin, triglycerides, and cholesterol). RCHO intake decreased average blood glucose compared to the standard diet in hyperglycemic participants: RCHO-early 7.8 ± 1.0 vs 7.5 ± 1.1 mM (p = 0.012) and RCHO-end 7.8 ± 1.0 vs 7.0 ± 0.9 mM (p = 0.050). In the hyperglycemic participants, the percentage of time spent in hyperglycemia (>10.0 mM) decreased by 50% during the RCHO-early (p = 0.012) and by 66% at RCHO-end (p  = 0.021) compared to baseline. Glycated hemoglobin was significantly lower at RCHO-end in both hyperglycemic and normoglycemic participants compared to baseline (p < 0.008). Plasma ketones increased threefold in hyperglycemic participants at RCHO-end compared to baseline (p < 0.028). This study shows that an RCHO diet has metabolic health benefits in an older population and confirms its safety, tolerability, and acceptability in an RH (NCT06022094).

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansAgedMaleFemaleBlood GlucoseDiet, Carbohydrate-RestrictedHyperglycemiaAged, 80 and overInsulinRetirementGlycemic ControlHomes for the AgedKetonesTriglycerides
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy80/10
Quality75/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score2.50
Normalized Score0.81
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