The Keto-Med Trial - Contrasting Ketogenic and Mediterranean Diets in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes
We Want to Know...
The objective of this study was to compare two metabolically distinct diets, a well-formulated Ketogenic diet (WFKD) vs a Mediterranean Diet (Med-Plus), in order to examine the potential benefits, and unintended consequences, of going beyond a focus on maximally avoiding added sugars and refined grains, to also avoiding legumes, fruits, and whole grains.
Eligible Participants
Eligible participant are:
- 18 years or older
- Have type-2 diabetes or pre-diabetes
Study Design
If eligible, participants were asked to:
- Eat both a Ketogenic (WFKD) and Mediterranean (Med-Plus) diet for 12 weeks each.
- Attend 7 clinic visits over a 16-week period (30 minutes each).
- Attend up to 14 classes with a registered dietitian.
- Maintain dietary food records throughout the study.
- Provide blood and stool samples, and complete questionnaires.
- Wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for 2 weeks at 6 time points throughout the study.
Upon completion, participants will receive the following free of charge:
- Results of their blood analyses
- A “map” of their microbiota composition
Conclusions
In this study, we observed an improvement in HbA1c from baseline on both diets, with no significant difference between the two diets. Both diets also led to a similar weight loss (7-8%). The WFKD led to a greater decrease in triglycerides, but also to elevated LDL cholesterol and lower nutrient intakes from avoiding legumes, fruits, and whole, intact grains, and was less sustainable over time.
The study results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35641199/) in September, 2022.
