Impact of weight loss and maintenance with ad libitum diets varying in protein and glycemic index content on metabolic syndrome.

Journal article

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the effects of weight loss and maintenance with diets that varied with regard to protein content and glycemic index (GI) on metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) status. METHODS: Secondary analyses were performed within the Diet, Obesity and Genes (DiOGenes) study (2006-2008), a randomized controlled dietary intervention. Nine hundred and thirty-eight overweight and obese adults from eight European countries entered an 8-wk low-calorie-diet period. Seven hundred and seventy-three adults who lost at least 8% of their body weights were randomized to one of five ad libitum diets for 6 mo: 1) low-protein (LP)/low-GI (LGI); 2) LP/high-GI (HGI); 3) high-protein (HP)/LGI; 4) HP/HGI; and 5) control diet. MetSyn prevalence and a standardized MetSyn score were assessed at baseline, after the low-calorie diet, and after the intervention. RESULTS: Weight loss among participants while on the low-calorie diet significantly reduced MetSyn prevalence (33.9% versus 15.9%; P < 0.001) and MetSyn score (-1.48 versus -4.45; P < 0.001). During weight maintenance, significant changes in MetSyn score were observed between the groups, with the highest increase detected in the LP/HGI group (P = 0.039, partial η(2) = 0.023). Protein, GI, and their interaction did not have isolated effects on study outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Neither protein nor GI affected MetSyn status in this sample of European overweight and obese adults. However, a diet with a combination of an increased protein-to-carbohydrate ratio with low-GI foods had beneficial effects on MetSyn factors.

Authors: Papadaki, A; Linardakis, M; Plada, M; Larsen, T; Damsgaard, C

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 410-417
• Publication date: 2014-04-01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2013.09.001
• EISSN: 1873-1244
• ISSN: 0899-9007
• Language: English
• Keywords: Dietary Carbohydrates; Weight Loss; Metabolic Syndrome X; Diet; Adult; Energy Intake; Glycemic Index; Dietary Proteins; Humans; Male; Obesity; Caloric Restriction; Female; Overweight