Very low calorie ketogenic diet and common rheumatic disorders:A case report

BACKGROUND The scientific literature provides evidence that nutritional ketosis can be an important support in the treatment of pathologies in which inflammation is present,as recent studies have shown that ketone bodies have anti-inflammatory activity in numerous diseases,including rheumatic diseases.We report the case of a 22-year-old woman with class I obesity and juvenile idiopathic arthritis who started treatment with a very low calorie ketogenic diet(VLCKD).CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 22-year-old woman diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at age 4 years and with a body mass index(BMI)of 30.8 kg/m2,waist circumference(WC)80 cm,fat mass(FM)28.1 kg,free FM 45.7 kg,and visceral adipose tissue(VAT)3.5 kg,assessed on bioimpedance analysis.She was treated using a commercial VLCKD weight-loss program(PNK®method);this program provides high-biological-value protein preparations and natural foods.Each protein preparation contains 15 g protein,4 g carbohydrate,3 g fat,and 50 mg omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid,with an energy content of 90–120 kcal.After four months on the program,the BMI was 28.6 kg/m2,WC 73 cm,FM 23.2 kg,free FM 41.9 kg,and VAT 2.9 kg.CONCLUSION VLCKD enabled the patient to reach her target weight and to reduce her joint pain and headaches.Laboratory inflammatory indices also normalized.

Effects of the Modified Linggui Zhugan Decoction(加味苓桂术甘汤) Combined with Short-term Very Low Calorie Diets on Glycemic Control in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetics

Objective:To evaluate the effects of the modified Linggui Zhugan Decoction(加味苓桂术甘汤) combined with short-term very low calorie diets(VLCDs) on glycemic control in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) patients.Methods:A total of 20 subjects with newly diagnosed T2DM were treated with the modified Linggui Zhugan Decoction(one-month administration) combined with short-term VLCDs(5 days),and 3-months follow-up.A standard 75-g oral-glucose-tolerance test(OGTT) indexes fasting plasma glucose(FPG),post-prandial 0.5 h and 2 h plasma glucose(P0.5hPG,P2hPG),glycated hemoglobin A1C(GHbA1C),body weight,body mass index(BMI),insulin function,insulin resistance index,incidence of hypoglycemia,and the liver and renal functions were evaluated before and after treatment.Correlations of BMI with insulin function and insulin resistance were also assessed.Results:After the treatment,the patients' plasma glucose decreased steadily,FPG decreased from 5.8±0.9 mmol/L at pre-treatment to 5.0±0.6 mmol/L at 3-months follow-up(P<0.05),and P2hPG decreased from 11.7±3.8 mmol/L at pre-treatment to 6.9±0.9 mmol/L at 3-months follow-up(P<0.01).The level of GHbA1C declined from(6.47±1.24)% at pre-treatment to(6.14±0.99)% at 3-months follow-up(P<0.01).Body weight and BMI also declined significantly.Insulin resistance index was improved obviously and no event of hypoglycemia occurred.Part of the patients companied with fatty liver had a transient increase in hepatic transaminase during the treatment,but it turned to normal after the treatment.Conclusions:The modified Linggui Zhugan Decoction combined with short-term VLCDs can be safely implemented for steady glycemic control in newly diagnosed T2DM patients.

Protective effects of Modified Linggui Zhugan Decoction combined with short-term very low calorie diets on cardiovascular risk factors in obese patients with impaired glucose tolerance

OBJECTIVE:To observe the protective effects of modified Linggui Zhugan Decoction combined with short-term very low calorie diets(VLCDs) on cardiovascular risk factors in obese patients with impaired glucose tolerance(IGT).METHODS:Eighty-five obese patients with IGT of spleen hypofunction and dampness accumulation type were randomly divided into treated group(n=45)and control group(n=40).The treated group was given Linggui Zhugan Decoction combined short-term VLCDs.The control group was given basic weight-reduction treatment.The total course was 6 months.Changes of fasting plasma glucose(FPG),2-hour postprandial blood glucose(2hPG),glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c),fasting insulin(FINS),lipid metabolism,blood pressure,body mass index(BMI) and waist circumference(WC) were observed,and the outcomes were reviewed after the treatment.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,the levels of FPG,2hPG,HbA1c,FINS,HOMA-IR decreased significantly(P<0.05),and the indexes of total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),low-density lipoprotein(LDL),systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),BMI and WC were improved significantly(P<0.05) in the treated group.The transformation rate of normal glucose tolerance(NGT) was higher in treatment group than control group(P<0.01).No severe adverse reaction was found in the therapeutic course.CONCLUSION:The modified Linggui Zhugan Decoction combined with short-term VLCDs has good protective effects on cardiovascular risk factors as a treatment intervention for IGT with obesity,as it could improve glycometabolism,significantly decrease the levels of blood pressure,blood lipids,BMI,WC and effectively cut-off and reverse the development of diabetes mellitus.

Assessing the evidence for weight loss strategies in people with and without type 2 diabetes

This review will examine topical issues in weight loss and weight maintenance in people with and without diabetes. A high protein, low glycemic index diet would appear to be best for 12-mo weight maintenance in people without type 2 diabetes. This dietary pattern is currently beingexplored in a large prevention of diabetes intervention. Intermittent energy restriction is useful but no better than daily energy restriction but there needs to be larger and longer term trials performed. There appears to be no evidence that intermittent fasting or intermittent severe energy restriction has a metabolic benefit beyond the weight loss produced and does not spare lean mass compared with daily energy restriction. Meal replacements are useful and can produce weight loss similar to or better than food restriction alone. Very low calorie diets can produce weight loss of 11-16 kg at 12 mo with persistent weight loss of 1-2 kg at 4-6 years with a very wide variation in long term results. Long term medication or meal replacement support can produce more sustained weight loss. In type 2 diabetes very low carbohydrate diets are strongly recommended by some groups but the long term evidence is very limited and no published trial is longer than 12 mo. Although obesity is strongly genetically based the microbiome may play a small role but human evidence is currently very limited.