The objective of the study lead by Nichola J. Davis and team from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center was to compare the effects of a one-year intervention with a low-carbohydrate and a low-fat diet on weight loss and glycemic control in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

          This study was a randomized clinical trial of 105 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes. This study was a randomized clinical trial of 105 overweight adults with type 2 diabetes . Using a computer-generated 1:1 randomization, participants were assigned to either a low-carbohydrate or a low-fat diet. The low-carbohydrate diet was modeled after the Atkins diet and was initiated with a 2-week phase of carbohydrate restriction of 20-25 grams daily depending on baseline weight. The low-fat diet was modeled after the Diabetes Prevention Program. Participants received a fat gram goal, which was 25% of energy needs, based on baseline weight.

          Primary outcomes were weight and A1c and secondary outcomes included blood pressure and lipids for this study. Outcome measures were obtained at 3, 6, and 12 months. The greatest reduction in weight and A1c occurred within the first three months. Weight loss occurred faster in the low-carbohydrate arm compared to the low fat arm (p=. 005), but at one year there was a similar 3.4% weight reduction in both arms. There was no significant change in A1c in either arm at one year. There was no change in blood pressure, but a greater increase in HDL was observed in the low carbohydrate arm (p=. 002).

          Among patients with Type 2 diabetes, a low-carbohydrate compared to a low-fat diet had similar effects on weight and A1c following one year. There was no significant effect on blood pressure but the low-carbohydrate diet had a greater increase in HDL cholesterol.