Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: DM2 has been associated with altered levels of trace elements and a prothrombotic state. We investigated the effect of a 28-day Greek mediterranean diet (rich in fiber, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids and complex carbohydrates) on serum concentration of trace ele-ments and blood factors participating in coagulation and fibrinolysis in 58 patients with DM2.

Materials and methods: Blood trace elements and blood coagulation fac-tors were evaluated in 35 men aged (M±S.E.M.) 61.6±1.57 years and 23 women aged 58.8±1.97 years with DM2, on treatment with diet or/and oral hypoglycaemic agents as well as in 22 healthy controls matched for sex and age. The food, rich in olive oil, vegetable and fruit, was prepared and pro-vided daily by two commercial firms. The diet was isocaloric to the current so that patients could not reduce their weight during the test period. The BMI and HbAlc of patients were less than 28 and 7%. The study subjects were assessed before and after the end of the 28 day-period on the diet. The Wilkoxon matched paired test was applied for the statistical analysis.All values are expressed as means±S.E.M..

Results: BMI did not change significantly following the diet but waist perimeter was reduced in diabetic men and in the control group. HbAlc fell in the patients (6.45±0.21% versus 7.00±0.18%, P<0.001). Serum ferritin was drastically reduced in the patients (95.24±11.7 versus 109.83±11.08 nglml, P=0.0006),whereas plasma levels of Mg and P increased following the diet in patients and controls (P<0.02).Analysis of parameters involved in haemostasis revealed a significant reduction of fibrinogen in patients (374.76±9.78 versus 393.96±10.05, P=0.016) but a decrease in the activity of the anticoagulant proteins C and S both in patients (P<0.001) and controls (P<0.04).

Conclusions: It is concluded that adherence to mediterranean diet even for a short period improves glucose control, induces increases in plasma levels of Mg and P and reduces serum ferritin which is positively correlated to insulin resistance. Additionally it lowers blood fibrinogen levels but also reduces the activity of proteins C and S, an effect the significance of which remains to be elucidated.