Reducing Cholesterol and Fat Intake Improves Glucose Tolerance by Enhancing β Cell Function in Nondiabetic Subjects

A diet low in cholesterol and fat is commonly recommended to prevent metabolic and cardiovascular diseases; however, its effect on glucose tolerance is largely unknown.

We examined whether and by which mechanisms a chronic reduction of cholesterol and fat intake affects glucose tolerance in nondiabetic individuals, independently of weight changes.

In this crossover, randomized clinical trial, 30 healthy subjects, including 15 with family history of type 2 diabetes (T2D) (T2D offspring), underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after two 14-day isocaloric high-cholesterol, high-fat (HChF) or low-cholesterol, and low-fat (LChF) diets.

We evaluated changes in glucose tolerance, β cell function, insulin clearance, and insulin sensitivity by modeling plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels during the OGTT.

The shift from the HChF to the LChF diet was neutral on body weight but increased glucose tolerance (mean glucose -5%, P = 0.01) and three components of β cell function: glucose sensitivity (+17%, P = 0.01), insulin secretion at fasting glucose (+20%, P = 0.02), and potentiation (+19%, P = 0.03). The LChF diet improved insulin sensitivity (+7%, P = 0.048) only in T2D offspring, who tended to be more susceptible to the positive effect of the diet on glucose tolerance.

A chronic and isocaloric decrease in dietary cholesterol and fat intake improves glucose tolerance by diffusely ameliorating β cell function in nondiabetic subjects. Individuals genetically predisposed to develop T2D tend to be more susceptible to the positive effect of this dietary intervention on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.