In next month’s issue of Nutrition Reviews, PCRM researchers publish a summary of research to date on the effect of vegetarian diets on type 2 diabetes. Observational studies (in which there is no attempt to affect the outcome) showed lower diabetes prevalence among vegetarians as compared to omnivores. Intervention trials (in which a group is asked to make a change) showed increased effectiveness for diabetes management as measured by blood glucose control. Possible mechanisms for improvements on a low-fat, plant-based diet include increased weight loss, reduced intake of high-glycemic foods, reduced fat storage in cells, and increased intake of fiber.

Barnard ND, Katcher HI, Jenkins DJA, Cohen J, Turner-McGrievy G. Vegetarian and vegan diets in type 2 diabetes management. Nutr Rev. 2009;67:255263.

A new report from PCRM researchers, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, shows that a low-fat vegan diet helps people with diabetes lose weight and improve their blood sugars and cholesterol. Earlier publications had shown that the diet is effective over the short term. The new publication shows that benefits persisted for a year beyond the initial 22-week study period. Vegan group participants lost on average 9.7 pounds, compared to 6.6 pounds for people on a more conventional diabetes diet. Improvements in hemoglobin A1c levels (a measure of blood sugar over time) and total and LDL cholesterol were also greater in the vegan group. Recent reports from the same group showed that nutrition improvements were greater in the vegan group and that acceptability of the diet was comparable to seemingly more permissive diets.

Barnard ND, Cohen J, Jenkins DJ, Turner-McGrievy G, Gloede L, Green A, Ferdowsian H. A low-fat vegan diet and a conventional diabetes diet in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: a randomized, controlled, 74-week clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89:1588S1596S.

Turner-McGrievy GM, Barnard ND, Cohen J, Jenkins DJA, Gloede L, Green AA. Changes in nutrient intake and dietary quality among participants with type 2 diabetes following a low-fat vegan diet or a conventional diabetes diet for 22 weeks. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008;108:1636-1645.

Barnard ND, Gloede L, Cohen J, Jenkins DJA, Turner-McGrievy G, Green AA, Ferdowsian H. A low-fat vegan diet elicits greater macronutrient changes, but is comparable in adherence and acceptability, compared with a more conventional diabetes diet among individuals with type 2 diabetes. J Am Diet Assoc. 2009;109:263-272.

McDougall explains why he acts the way he does.

He also encourages everyone to support a proposed new law in California that would require doctors to give patients information on how nutrition can prevent heart disease and diabetes.

This month’s recipes include a garbanzo spinach salad, an Asian vegetable noodle toss, and peanutty tofu lettuce cups.