Recommendations for carbohydrate-restricted diets and intermittent fasting in patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

This study evaluated the effects of carbohydrate-restricted diets and intermittent fasting (IF) in patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and hypertension (high blood pressure). The authors recommended that in adults with T2D, overweight or obesity, a moderately-low carbohydrate diet can be considered as a dietary regimen for blood sugar control and weight reduction. 

T2D is a condition in which patients have high blood sugar (glucose) levels (hyperglycemia). Long-term high blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels, nerves, and organs. This can lead to complications such as heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, kidney disease, loss of sight, and nerve damage. Diet plays an important role in the management of T2D. A healthy diet can help in controlling blood glucose levels, managing weight, and reducing complications.

Carbohydrate-restricted diets and intermittent fasting (IF) have been rapidly gaining interest among the general population and patients with cardiometabolic diseases, such as overweight or obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. However, there are limited expert recommendations for these dietary regimens.

This study analyzed 66 studies on carbohydrate-restricted diets and 10 studies on IF.

In adults with overweight or obesity, a moderately-low carbohydrate diet can be considered as a dietary regimen for weight reduction.

In adults with T2D, a moderately-low carbohydrate diet can be considered as a dietary regimen for improving blood glucose control and reducing body weight. However, a very low-carbohydrate diet and IF were not recommended in patients with diabetes and hypertension. 

The authors recommended that in adults with T2D, overweight or obesity, a moderately-low carbohydrate diet can be considered as a dietary regimen for blood sugar control and weight reduction. However, no recommendations were suggested for a very-low-carbohydrate diet and IF in patients with obesity, T2D, and hypertension.

The studies analyzed were different in study design. This study did not evaluate the long-term effects of intermittent fasting.