New
Study Supports Major Change
in Diet Treatment for Diabetes
Low-Fat
Vegan Diet Rivals Oral
Diabetes Medications
in Federally Funded Study;
Study Participants to
Describe Their Experiences
at Briefing with Researchers
with George Washington
University and University
of Toronto
WASHINGTON—A
low-fat vegan diet treats
type 2 diabetes more effectively
than a standard diabetes
diet and may be more effective
than single-agent therapy
with oral diabetes drugs,
according to a study in the
August issue of Diabetes
Care, a journal published
by the American Diabetes
Association. Study
participants on the low-fat
vegan diet showed dramatic
improvement in four disease
markers: blood sugar control,
cholesterol reduction, weight
control, and kidney function.
The randomized controlled
trial was conducted by doctors
and dieticians with the Physicians
Committee for Responsible
Medicine (PCRM), the George
Washington University, and
the University of Toronto
with funding from the National
Institutes of Health and
the Diabetes Action Research
and Education Foundation.
The vegan diet represents a major
departure from current diabetes
diets, in that it placed
no limits on calories, carbohydrates,
or portions. “The diet
appears remarkably effective,
and all the side effects
are good ones—especially
weight loss and lower cholesterol,” says
lead researcher Neal D. Barnard,
M.D., PCRM president and
adjunct associate professor
of medicine at the George
Washington University. “I
hope this study will rekindle
interest in using diet changes
first, rather than prescription
drugs.” Diabetes rates
have climbed rapidly in recent
years, and more than 20 million
Americans now have the disease,
which is linked to kidney
failure, blindness, and cardiovascular
disease.
Journalists seeking interviews with the researchers and participants should contact Jeanne McVey at 202-686-2210, ext. 316, or jeannem@pcrm.org.
The study authors include the following:
Neal D. Barnard, M.D., lead
researcher, PCRM president,
and adjunct associate professor
of medicine at the George
Washington University
Joshua
Cohen, M.D., associate
professor of medicine,
the George Washington University
Medical Center
David
Jenkins, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., Canada
research chair in nutrition
and metabolism, University
of Toronto
The study participants include the following:
Nancy Boughn is
a study
participant. Until she tried
the intervention diet, Ms. Boughn's
diabetes was worsening and
not responding to intensified
drug therapy. During the
course of the study she dropped
about 42 pounds and was able
to discontinue one of the
medications.
Vance Warren is
a study participant and former
police officer who lives in the
District of Columbia. In response
to the intervention diet, Mr. Warren's
high blood sugar plunged rapidly
into the normal range, and he
dropped about 60 pounds.
Founded in 1985, the Physicians
Committee for Responsible
Medicine is a nonprofit
health organization that
promotes preventive medicine,
especially good nutrition.
PCRM also conducts clinical
research studies, opposes
unethical human experimentation,
and promotes alternatives
to animal research.
###
Physicians
Committee for Responsible Medicine
5100 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.,
Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20016
Phone: 202-686-2210 | E-mail: pcrm@pcrm.org |
