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Controlled Clinical Trial
. 2024 Sep 8;25(17):9731.
doi: 10.3390/ijms25179731.

The 5:2 Diet Affects Markers of Insulin Secretion and Sensitivity in Subjects with and without Type 2 Diabetes-A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

Neda Rajamand Ekberg  1   2   3 , Anton Hellberg  4 , Michaela Linn Sundqvist  5 , Angelica Lindén Hirschberg  4   6 , Sergiu-Bogdan Catrina  1   2   3 , Kerstin Brismar  1
Affiliations
Controlled Clinical Trial

The 5:2 Diet Affects Markers of Insulin Secretion and Sensitivity in Subjects with and without Type 2 Diabetes-A Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

Neda Rajamand Ekberg et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

This non-randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the effect of the 5:2 diet on insulin levels as a primary outcome and markers of insulin secretion (connecting peptide (C-peptide) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1)) and sensitivity (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)), as well as body composition as secondary outcomes in overweight/obese individuals with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). Ninety-seven participants (62% women), 35 with T2D and 62 BMI- and waist-matched controls without T2D, followed the 5:2 diet (two days per week of fasting) for six months with a 12-month follow-up. At six months, there was no loss to follow-up in the T2D group, whereas four controls discontinued this study. Overall, 82% attended the 12-month follow-up. After the intervention, insulin levels decreased in the control group and glucose decreased in the T2D group, while C-peptide, HOMA-IR, waist circumference, BMI, trunk, and total fat% decreased in both groups. Furthermore, low IGFBP-1, indicating hyperinsulinemia, improved in the T2D group. The changes in fasting glucose and waist measurement were significantly more improved in the T2D group than in the controls. Persistent positive effects were observed at the 12-month follow-up. The 5:2 diet for six months was feasible and efficient to reduce markers of insulin secretion and resistance and therefore holds promise as management of overweight/obesity in subjects with and without T2D.

Keywords: 5:2 diet; IGFBP-1; insulin sensitivity; intermittent fasting; type 2 diabetes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study with a 6-month intervention and a 12-month follow-up.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Fasting insulin levels and (b) HOMA-IR values at baseline, 6 month intervention, and 12-month follow-up for participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D group) and controls, respectively. Within-group differences are represented by * = p < 0.05, ** = p < 0.01, and *** = p < 0.001.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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