Diet, Disease, and Mental Health

In this systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Chiavaroli et al. (2021), the authors consulted several databases (Embase, Medline, Cochrane, up to May 13, 2021) to evaluate the impact of the low glycemic index (GI)/load (GL) diets on diabetes, and evaluate the use of diet as a therapeutic intervention. Data on glycemic control (fasting insulin and fasting glucose levels), adiposity (body weight, body mass index [BMI], waist circumference), lipids (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], apolipoprotein B, triglycerides, non-HDL-C), inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP]), blood pressure (systolic [SBP], diastolic [DBP]), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was collected from studies that met inclusion criteria (n = 29, 1617 participants, Type 1 and 2 Diabetes, middle-aged, overweight or obese with moderate Type 2 control on antihyperglycemics or insulin). Analysis of the data revealed that the use of low GI/GL diets helped improve glycemic control significantly (reduction in HbA1c levels, fasting glucose, body weight, BMI, LDL-C, apo B, non-HDL-C, SBP, CRP), with the levels of reduction seen on HbA1c with GL diets and the levels of reduction in SBP and dietary GI correlating with the overall adherence to the low glycemic diets. No reductions were observed in HDL-C, waist circumference, DBP, or insulin levels. The authors conclude that low GI/GL diets can help improve lipids, adiposity, inflammation, blood pressure, and most importantly, glycemic control in adults suffering from moderately controlled type 1 or type 2 diabetes in tandem with current hyperglycemia treatment regimens