Animal Protein, Type 2 Diabetes

A diet low in animal protein and sugar may help type 2 diabetics improve their lipid profile and lower blood cholesterol. Findings were reported at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in Denver, Colorado, June 2001.

In this study of 51 diabetic patients, 31 reduced their dietary animal protein intake from two to three times a day to once every other day for six months, replacing it with equal amounts of vegetable protein. Sugars were eliminated, but caloric content remained the same. Of the remaining 20 patients, 14 subjects continued on the same amount of animal protein, and 6 followed a low-calorie diet and lost 5 to 100 lbs.

Compared to the 20 patients who did not follow the diet, patients who lowered animal protein intake showed a 32% reduction in total cholesterol, 60% reduction in triglycerides, 35% reduction of LDL cholesterol, and 10% increase in HDL cholesterol.

According to study author Greg Arsenis: “Patients liked the new diet because they did not have to fast, adhere to low-calorie diets or take appetite suppressants....We were not really surprised by these findings. We know that animal protein contains essential amino acids which stimulate pancreatic insulin secretion. The increased insulin, in turn, increases adrenaline levels, which is thought to induce insulin resistance.”

Source: Arsenis, G. Abstract presentation, Endocrine Society 83rd Annual Meeting, June 2001. Reported by P/S/L Consulting Group.