DIETARY-COMPOSITION, BODY-WEIGHT, AND NIDDM - COMPARISON OF HIGH-FIBER, HIGH-CARBOHYDRATE, AND MODIFIED-FAT DIETS

OBJECTIVE - To examine the effects of a high-carbohydrate low-fat (HCL F) and a modified-fat (MF) diet on body weight and metabolic control i n subjects with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) living at home. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - Twenty-four NIDDM patients foll owed HCLF and MF diets alternately and in random order for a 3-month p eriod while at home, with a 1-month baseline and washout between diets . Before and after each diet, fasting glucose and lipids, HbA(1c), blo od pressure, and body weight were measured. Dietary preferences were a ssessed by questionnaire. RESULTS - Subjects consumed 50% of energy as carbohydrate and 23% as fat on the HCLF diet and 40% of energy as car bohydrate and 36% as fat (over half of which was monounsaturated fat) on the MF diet. Subjects lost weight on both HCLF and MF diets (mean l oss 0.7 and 1.3 kg, respectively). Although the MF diet resulted in a small decrease in fasting glucose levels, there was no significant cha nge in HbA(1c). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the diets in changes in blood pressure or fasting blood lipids. Most subjects (65%) preferred the MF diet. CONCLUSIONS - Although the MF di et is not a low-fat diet, it did not appear to facilitate weight gain in subjects with NIDDM living at home. The MF diet provides an alterna tive for individuals unable to comply with HCLF diets.