Biomarkers Could Predict Which Diets Will Be Successful

Fasting plasma glucose levels could be used to indicated which diet overweight patients would benefit most from, according to a recent study.

In the study, the researchers analyzed concentrations of fasting plasma glucose and fasting insulin using data from 3 randomized trials: Diet, Obesity, and Genes (DiOGenes) trial, Optimal Well-Being, the Development and Health for Danish Children Through a Healthy New Nordic Diet (OPUS) Supermarket Intervention (SHOPUS) trial, and the Nutrient-Gene Interactions in Human Obesity (NUGENOB) trial.
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Participants in the DiOGenes trial completed an 8-week weight loss intervention followed by a 26-week period where participants consumed ad libitum of either a high or low glycemic diet. In the SHOPUS trial, participants consumed ab libitum the New Nordic Diet (high in fiber and whole grains) or a control diet for 26 weeks. Those who participated in the NUGENOB trial consumed a hypocaloric low-fat and high-carbohydrate diet, or a high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet for 10 weeks.

At baseline, participants were categories as normoglycemic, prediabetic, or diabetic according to their fasting plasma glucose level.

Individuals with prediabetes in the DiOGenes trial regained a mean 5.81 kg of weight on the high-glycemic load diet compared to those on the low- glycemic load diet. However, normoglycemic individuals regained a mean 1.44 kg more on the high- glycemic load diet compared with those on the low-glycemic load diet.

Among prediatetic individuals in the SHOPUS trial, individuals lost a mean 6.04 kg more on the New Nordic Diet compared with those on the control diet. Normoglycemic individuals on the New Nordic Diet lost a mean 2.20 kg more compared with those on the control diet.

The participants in the NUGENOB trial who had diabetes lost a mean 2.04 kg more on the high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet compared with individuals on the low-fat and high-carbohydrate diet, but normoglycemic participants only lost a mean 0.43 kg more compared with individuals on the low-fat and high-carbohydrate diet.

These associations were strengthened when fasting insulin was factored into the analysis.

“Elevated [fasting plasma glucose] before treatment indicates success with dietary weight loss and maintenance among overweight patients consuming diets with a low glycemic load or with large amounts of fiber and whole grains,” the researchers concluded.

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Hjorth MF, Ritz C, Blaak EE, et al. Pretreatment fasting plasma glucose and insulin modify dietary weight loss success: results from 3 randomized clinical trials [published online July 5, 2017]. Am J Clin Nutr. doi:10.3945/​ajcn.117.155200.