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MONDAY, July 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with type 2 diabetes, intermittent energy restriction is comparable to continuous energy restriction for reduction of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), according to a study published online July 20 in JAMA Network Open<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Sharayah Carter, from the University of South Australia in Adelaide, and colleagues randomized 137 adult participants with type 2 diabetes to parallel diet groups (intermittent energy restriction, in which 70 participants consumed 500 to 600 kcal\/day for two nonconsecutive days per week, or continuous energy restriction [1,200 to 1,500 kcal\/day; 67 participants]). The participants were followed for 12 months.<\/p>\n
The researchers found that similar reductions were seen in the mean HbA1c level between the continuous and intermittent energy restriction groups (\u22120.5 versus \u22120.3 percent), with a between-group difference of 0.2 percent, meeting the criteria for equivalence. The mean weight change was similar between the groups (\u22125 versus \u22126.8 kg); this between-group difference did not meet the criteria for equivalence, nor did the between-group difference in fat mass or fat-free mass. Final step count, fasting glucose levels, lipid levels, or total medication effect score at 12 months did not differ significantly between the groups.<\/p>\n
“Intermittent energy restriction is an effective alternative diet strategy for the reduction of HbA1c and is comparable with continuous energy restriction in patients with type 2 diabetes,” the authors write.<\/p>\n