In Other Journals

A short-term low-carbohydrate diet can lead to beneficial effects beyond weight loss in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes, say US researchers. Boden and colleagues measured the effect of a strict 20 g carbohydrate per day diet over a 2-week period in 10 obese patients with type 2 diabetes. They found that the patients' energy intake spontaneously dropped by a third, with an average weight loss of 1.65 kg over the fortnight. However, the patients also demonstrated improved 24-hour blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity; reduced haemoglobin A1c results; as well as decreased plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels.