Immune Function Response Following a Low-carbohydrate, High-fat Diet (LCHFD) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that can result in micro- and macrovascular complications and is complicated by an impaired healing process. Research suggests that both dietary factors and habitual physical activity influence the hemostatic system through several pathways. Objectives: The study attempted to investigate if a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (LCHFD), on its own or in conjunction with physical activity, could alter hematologic variables in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Participants (n = 39; 31 - 71 y.) were assigned into three groups, which included either a 16 week continuous physical activity program with the consumption of an LCHFD (ExDG) (n = 13; 41 - 71 y), consuming only a LCHFD group (DietG) (n = 13; 31 - 71 y.), or a control group (ConG) (n = 13; 44 - 69 y). Participants in the ExDG were advised only to consume a diet high in fat and not consume more than 50 g of carbohydrates per day. Furthermore, participants had to walk a minimum of 10000 steps per day. The DietG were instructed to only consume a diet high in fat and low in carbohydrates, where the ConG continued with their normal daily routine. Results: No significant changes (P > 0.05) were observed in white blood cell count, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, hematocrit, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, platelets, red blood cell distribution width, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and C-reactive protein following ExDG, DietG or in the ConG. Conclusions: A LCHFD on its own or in conjunction with physical activity does not have any effect on the measured hematologic variables in patients with type 2 diabetes. This may be due to the current popular recommendation of LCHFD not being useful in type 2 diabetics and 10000 steps being of insufficient intensity to improve hematologic parameters in type 2 diabetics.

Low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets: a scoping review of neurological and inflammatory outcomes in human studies and their relevance to chronic pain

“…Fifteen studies presented equivocal results (62,87,90,92,96,100,110,112,114,123,128,132,135,138,140) (no significant change in inflammatory markers), two reported mixed results (51,124) and two studies reported negative results (105,121) (increased inflammatory markers). Total energy intake was similar to the neurological outcomes group; thirty-eight were ad libitum/ weight maintenance studies, fifteen had mild-to-moderate calorie restriction (91,92,(105)(106)(107)(108)(109)111,116,125,127,129,132,134) , seven were very low-calorie (<800 kcal per day) (57,93,97,102,112,115,120) and three used mixed models (51,94,101) .…”

“…Total energy intake was similar to the neurological outcomes group; thirty-eight were ad libitum/ weight maintenance studies, fifteen had mild-to-moderate calorie restriction (91,92,(105)(106)(107)(108)(109)111,116,125,127,129,132,134) , seven were very low-calorie (<800 kcal per day) (57,93,97,102,112,115,120) and three used mixed models (51,94,101) . Fifty-seven studies reported weight loss, two reported no weight loss (98,114) and four did not report a finding (83,90,134,139) . Overall, a total of 2296 participants commenced an LCD or KD trial that reported an inflammatory outcome.…”