Impact of different dietary patterns on blood lipid levels in patients with and without type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a common comorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Individualized dietary regimens are used to achieve therapeutic levels, particularly in patients with T2D. However, the optimal dietary goal to achieve therapeutic glucose and lipid levels remains unclear. This review aims to summarize existing evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating dietary patterns and their effect on blood lipid levels. We found that diets focusing on macronutrient composition are difficult to maintain due to adherence challenges. Although different diets can serve as effective nutritional therapies, a vegetarian diet and the Mediterranean diet are superior in controlling diabetic dyslipidemia and achieving glycemic control. Overall, the Mediterranean diet and plant-based diets have the best evidence for improving glycemic control and selected markers of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risks.