Uno studio di follow-up a 6 mesi dell'intervento dietetico macrobiotico Ma-Pi randomizzato e controllato (studio MADIAB) nel diabete di tipo 2

In the MADIAB trial (a 21-day randomized, controlled trial in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D)), intervention with the Ma-Pi 2 macrobiotic diet resulted in significantly greater improvements in metabolic control compared with a standard recommended diet for patients with T2D. We report on a 6-month follow-up study, which investigated, whether these benefits extended beyond the 21-day intensive dietary intervention, in real-world conditions. At the end of the MADIAB trial (baseline of this follow-up study), all participants continued their assigned diet (Ma-Pi or control) for 6 months. The Ma-Pi 2 group followed the Ma-Pi 4 diet during this follow-up study. Forty of the original 51 subjects (78.4%) participated in the follow-up (body mass index, 27–45 kg m −2 ; age, 40–75 years). Primary outcome was percentage change from baseline in HbA1c; secondary outcomes were anthropometric data and lipid panel. A significantly greater median percentage reduction was observed for HbA1c in the Ma-Pi group (−11.27% (95% confidence interval (CI): −10.17; −12.36)) compared with the control group (−5.88% (95% CI: −3.79; −7.98)) ( P < 0.001). Total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol increased in both groups with no differences between groups ( P =0.331 and P =0.082, respectively). After correcting for age and gender, the Ma-Pi diet was associated with a higher percentage reduction in HbA1c (95% CI: 2.56; 7.61) and body weight (95% CI: 0.40; 3.99), and a higher percentage increase in LDL cholesterol (95% CI: −1.52; −33.16). However, all participants' total and LDL cholesterol levels remained within recommended ranges (<200 mg dl −1 and <100 mg dl −1 , respectively). The Ma-Pi diet group achieved the target median HbA1c value (<5.7% (39 mmol mol −1 )) at 6 months. Both the Ma-Pi and control diets maintained their benefits beyond the 21-day intensive monitored intervention over a 6-month follow-up in real-world conditions. The Ma-Pi diet resulted in greater improvement in glycemic control.