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. 2023 Nov 9;2(1):e000664. doi: 10.1136/bmjmed-2023-000664

Table 1.

Summary of results with high to moderate certainty of evidence from umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials on diet in the management of type 2 diabetes

Outcomes Type of dietary intervention Effect estimates
(mean difference, risk ratio, or risk difference (95% CI))
Certainty of evidence*
Changes within the clinically meaningful range
Body weight (kg)
  • Liquid meal replacement

−2.37 (−3.30 to −1.44) High ⨁⨁⨁⨁
  • 10% decrease in carbohydrate intake

−1.34 (−1.77 to −0.91) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Body mass index
  • Liquid meal replacement

−0.87 (−1.32 to −0.43) High ⨁⨁⨁⨁
  • Plant based diet

−1.13 (−1.88 to −0.38) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Waist circumference (cm)
  • Liquid meal replacement

−2.24 (−3.71 to −0.76) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Plant based diet

−2.41 (−3.50 to −1.32) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Haemoglobin A1c (%)
  • Low carbohydrate diet (<26% total energy)

−0.47 (−0.60 to −0.34) High ⨁⨁⨁⨁
Fasting blood glucose (mmol/L)
  • Liquid meal replacement

−0.63 (−0.99 to −0.27) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Ginger

−1.18 (−1.47 to −0.88) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Psyllium

−1.78 (−2.33 to −1.23) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Fasting insulin (µIU/mL)
  • Liquid meal replacement

−1.97 (−3.88 to −0.07) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
HOMA-IR
  • Cocoa

−0.82 (−1.38 to −0.25) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Probiotics

−0.90 (−1.34 to −0.46) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Anthocyanin

−1.08 (−1.86 to −0.30) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Triglycerides (mmol/L)
  • Low carbohydrate diet (<26% total energy)

−0.30 (−0.43 to −0.17) High ⨁⨁⨁⨁
  • Mediterranean diet

−0.41 (−0.72 to −0.10) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Total cholesterol (mmol/L)
  • High protein diet (>25% total energy)

−0.21 (−0.31 to −0.11) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Soy protein

−0.19 (−0.33 to −0.05) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Psyllium

−0.24 (−0.31 to −0.16) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L)
  • High protein diet (>25% total energy)

−0.10 (−0.18, -0.02) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Low glycaemic index diet

−0.23 (−0.37 to −0.09) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Soy protein

−0.18 (−0.31 to −0.05) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
High density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L)
  • Low carbohydrate diet (<26% total energy)

0.06 (0.01 to 0.10) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
  • Liquid meal replacement

−4.97 (−7.32 to −2.62) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
  • Liquid meal replacement

−1.98 (−3.05 to −0.91) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Reduced use of drug treatments
  • Low carbohydrate diet (<26% total energy)

Risk ratio 0.24 (0.12 to 0.35) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Changes not within the clinically meaningful range
Body weight (kg)
  • Mediterranean diet

−0.25 (−0.99 to 0.49) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Body mass index
  • Almonds

−0.36 (−0.53 to −0.20) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Haemoglobin A1c (%)
  • 10% decrease in carbohydrate intake

−0.11 (−0.17 to −0.04) High ⨁⨁⨁⨁
  • Non-nutritive sweeteners

0.02 (−0.13 to 0.17) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Fasting blood glucose (mmol/L)
  • Almonds

−0.03 (−0.17 to 0.12) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
QUICKI
  • Vitamin D

0.02 (0.01 to 0.03) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Triglycerides (mmol/L)
  • 10% decrease in carbohydrate intake

−0.12 (−0.22 to −0.01) High ⨁⨁⨁⨁
  • Moderate carbohydrate diet (<40% total energy)

−0.13 (−0.24 to −0.02) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L)
  • Liquid meal replacement

0.02 (−0.10 to 0.14) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • 10% decrease in carbohydrate intake

−0.03 (−0.08 to 0.02) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Low glycaemic index or glycaemic load diet

−0.26 (−0.43 to −0.09) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L)
  • Liquid meal replacement

−0.02 (−0.11 to 0.07) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
High density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L)
  • All types of carbohydrate restriction

−0.04 (−0.08 to −0.00) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Low glycaemic index or glycaemic load diet

−0.02 (−0.07 to 0.03) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Low fat diet (<30% total energy)

0.01 (−0.03 to 0.05) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
  • All types of carbohydrate restriction

0.03 (−1.77 to 1.84) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
  • Ginger

−0.11 (−1.10 to 0.88) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
  • Moderate carbohydrate diet (<40% total energy)

−0.21 (−1.21 to 0.79) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Blood urea nitrogen (mg/dL)
  • Probiotics

−1.22 (−1.94 to −0.51) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
C reactive protein (standardised mean difference)
  • Resveratrol

−0.87 (−1.11 to −0.63) Moderate ⨁⨁⨁〇
Major cardiovascular events
  • Omega 3 fatty acids

Risk difference 0.94 (0.87 to 1.02) High ⨁⨁⨁⨁

CI=confidence interval; HOMA-IR=homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance; QUICKI=quantitative insulin sensitivity check index.

*Assessed with the GRADEpro tool.