| Liquid meal replacements are a safe and effective weight loss tool for obese patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a clinical study published in Obesity Research. The study also suggests that the use of liquid meal replacements can result in improvements in body weight, glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c and lipid levels.
Objective:
Weight loss is an important component in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, there was some concern about the use of liquid meal replacements (MRs), given the sugar content. Researchers evaluated the safety and feasibility of using MRs for weight loss in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods:
Seventy-five subjects with type 2 diabetes participated in a 12-week clinical study. Fifty-seven subjects completed the study and subjects were randomized into three groups using either:
- MR1 containing lactose, fructose and sucrose
- MR2 in which fructose and sucrose were replaced with oligosaccharides (sugar-free Slim·Fast®)
- Exchange diet plan (EDP) using the proportion of macronutrients recommended by the American Diabetes Association
RESULTS:
Throughout the study, no subject developed any serious adverse effects to MRs, and no participants experienced major hypoglycemic reactions.
Weight loss:
Weight losses in the MR1 and MR2 groups were comparable (6.4% and 6.7%, respectively) and greater than the weight loss in the EDP group (4.9%). See Figure 1.
Glucose reductions:
Fasting glucose level was significantly reduced in the MR groups compared with the EDP group (p = 0.012).
See Figure 2.
|
 |
Figure 1: Weight Loss |
 |
|
Body weight changes in MR and EDP groups over the course of
the study, where error bars represent 1 SEM from the mean. The
weight loss of the pooled MR groups was significantly greater
than that of the EDP group (p = 0.009). |
|
Figure 2: Glucose reductions |
 |
|
Serum glucose concentrations over time. Glucose levels in the
MR group were significantly lower than those of the EDP group
over time (p = 0.012). Error bars represent 1 SEM from the mean. |
Lower lipid levels:
There was a significant reduction in the MR groups in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol that was not seen in the EDP group. During weight loss, there were associated reductions in glucose, insulin, and HbA1c levels. Furthermore, oral hypoglycemic medications were reduced in many of the participants during weight loss.
CONCLUSION:
Weight loss using meal replacements, such as Slim·Fast®, is safe and effective for glycemic control in obese patients with type 2 diabetes.
Source:
Yip, et al. Obes Res. 2001;9:341S-347S
|
