High-fibre, low-fat diet predicts long-term weight loss and decreased type 2 diabetes risk: the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of dietary macronutrient composition and energy density with the change in body weight and waist circumference and diabetes incidence in the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Overweight, middle-aged men (n=172) and women (n=350) with impaired glucose tolerance were randomised to receive either 'standard care' (control) or intensive dietary and exercise counselling. Baseline and annual examinations included assessment of dietary intake with 3-day food records and diabetes status by repeated 75-g OGTTs. For these analyses the treatment groups were combined and only subjects with follow-up data (n=500) were included.

RESULTS: Individuals with low fat (median) intakes lost more weight compared with those consuming a high-fat (>median), low-fibre (
CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Dietary fat and fibre intake are significant predictors of sustained weight reduction and progression to type 2 diabetes in high-risk subjects, even after adjustment for other risk factors.