US-based nutrition technology company L-Nutra announced results from a study that showed its fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) can bring lifestyle changes in people with type 2 diabetes.
The study is titled “Self-initiated lifestyle changes during a fasting-mimicking diet program in patients with type 2 diabetes: a mixed-methods study”.
It expands the previously published 12-month FIT trial, which showed the benefits of the fasting-mimicking diet (FMD) on health and lifestyle changes in patients with high blood sugar.
The study evaluated 92 participants from the FIT trial, comparing those who followed a monthly 5-day FMD program with a control group that received standard diabetes care.
In the study, the mixed-methods design incorporated both quantitative data from validated questionnaires and qualitative insights from focus group discussions, said L-Nutra.
L-Nutra CEO and chairman Joseph Antoun said: “The FIT trial continues to demonstrate the metabolic and cellular transformative benefits of the Fasting Mimicking Diet.
“By preserving muscle mass and promoting the novel notion of weight care instead of weight loss, FMD not only boosts physical activity but also demonstrates that profound health improvements can be achieved without rigid daily lifestyle changes.
“This aligns with our ‘Food is Medicine’ ethos, providing a powerful, drug-free intervention that empowers patients to seize control of their health.”
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D is primarily driven by three key factors, ageing, muscle loss that reduces the body’s ability to burn carbohydrates, and insulin resistance caused by fat accumulation.
FMD, if conducted once a month, is shown to address the three primary causes of high blood sugar, including cellular ageing, muscle loss, and visceral fat accumulation.
In the study, the FMD program resulted in a significant increase in self-initiated physical activity among participants.
The participants in the FMD group increased their total physical activity by four hours per week over 12 months, while the control group decreased theirs to 6 hours per week.
Also, the results suggest the benefits of FMD extend beyond the major metabolic benefits, motivating participants to engage more in physical activities for long-term health benefits.
In addition to physical activity, the FMD program enabled the preservation of muscle mass, allowing participants to lose fat without sacrificing muscle strength and function.
The study results conclude that FMD is the only powerful nutrition technology that provides sustained health benefits without requiring cumbersome lifestyle changes, said L-Nutra.
L-Nutra CMO and Harvard’s Joslin Diabetes Centre former VP William Hsu said: “This study highlights the unique benefits of the Fasting Mimicking Diet, particularly its impact on increasing physical activity without necessitating daily imposition on lifestyle.
“While on the FMD program, patients felt lighter and stronger, which motivated and enabled them to engage in more physical activity.
“This is a unique example of how an effective nutrition intervention inspires individuals with type 2 diabetes to take control of other pillars of holistic diabetes management.”
