The Effect of a Diet Moderately High in Protein and Fiber on Insulin Sensitivity Measured Using the Dynamic Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion Test (DISST).

Nutrients. 2017;9(12)
Full text from:

Plain language summary

The protein, fat and carbohydrate composition of diets can modify heart function abnormalities associated with insulin resistance (when cells in the muscles, fat, and liver do not respond well to insulin and cannot easily take up glucose from the blood) and therefore reduce the risk of diabetes. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of a reduced carbohydrate diet that was high in both protein and dietary fibre on insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in overweight and obese women at risk of diabetes, independent of weight loss. The study is a randomised control trial which recruited 89 women at risk of diabetes. The participants were randomly assigned to either a standard diet or a relatively high protein and fibre diet group for a period of 10 weeks. Results indicate that a modest increase in consumption of dietary protein and fibre, without emphasis on energy reduction, improved several cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight women. There were modest reductions in body mass, total body fat and central body fat, without loss of lean mass and improvements in total serum and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Authors conclude that the heart function benefits achieved with moderate increases to fibre and protein, support the use of this dietary approach for overweight individuals at risk of diabetes.

Abstract

Evidence shows that weight loss improves insulin sensitivity but few studies have examined the effect of macronutrient composition independently of weight loss on direct measures of insulin sensitivity. We randomised 89 overweight or obese women to either a standard diet (StdD), that was intended to be low in fat and relatively high in carbohydrate (n = 42) or to a relatively high protein (up to 30% of energy), relatively high fibre (>30 g/day) diet (HPHFib) (n = 47) for 10 weeks. Advice regarding strict adherence to energy intake goals was not given. Insulin sensitivity and secretion was assessed by a novel method-the Dynamic Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion Test (DISST). Although there were significant improvements in body composition and most cardiometabolic risk factors on HPHFib, insulin sensitivity was reduced by 19.3% (95% CI: 31.8%, 4.5%; p = 0.013) in comparison with StdD. We conclude that the reduction in insulin sensitivity after a diet relatively high in both protein and fibre, despite cardiometabolic improvements, suggests insulin sensitivity may reflect metabolic adaptations to dietary composition for maintenance of glucose homeostasis, rather than impaired metabolism.

Lifestyle medicine

Fundamental Clinical Imbalances : Hormonal
Patient Centred Factors : Triggers/High protein and high fibre diet
Environmental Inputs : Diet ; Nutrients
Personal Lifestyle Factors : Nutrition
Functional Laboratory Testing : Blood ; Imaging
Bioactive Substances : Triglycerides

Methodological quality

Jadad score : 3
Allocation concealment : Yes

Metadata