Going Paleo: Does it Improve Insulin Resistance in Obese Women?

Obese postmenopausal women who follow a Paleolithic diet may see improvement in biomarkers for insulin resistance compared with those who follow a low-fat diet, according to results of a recent study.

In order to test the effects of the 2 diets on fatty acid composition on cholesterol esters and desaturase activity in plasma, as well as their association with changes in insulin resistance, researchers followed 70 obese postmenopausal women (BMI = 32.6 ±3.4 kg/m²) who were randomly assigned for 24 months to either a Paleolithic diet or a low-fat diet.

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The women on the Paleolithic diet aimed to consume 30% of their energy from protein, 30% from carbohydrates, and 40% from fat, including unsaturated fats. Those on the low-fat diet aimed for 15% protein, 55% carbohydrates, and 30% fat.

Those following the Paleolithic diet lost more weight at 6 months than those following the low-fat diet, but weight loss totals were similar at the end of follow-up. Saturated fatty acid consumption fell by 19% among the Paleolithic diet followers, but their monounsaturated fatty acid consumption increased by 47%, and their polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption increased by 71%.

The Paleolithic diet “reduced specific fatty acids … and desaturase activity … associated with insulin resistance more distinctly than a low-fat diet during a 24-month diet intervention,” the researchers concluded. “The changes in fatty acid levels associated to the Paleolithic diet may have long-term beneficial effects on obesity-related disorders.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:
Chorell E, Ryberg M, Mellberg C, et al. Beneficial effects on fatty acid composition and indices of fatty acid desaturase activity with a Paleolithic-type diet during a two-year intervention in obese postmenopausal women. Presented at: ENDO 2016; April 1-4, 2016; Boston, MA. https://endo.confex.com/endo/2016endo/webprogram/Paper25534.html. Accessed April 8, 2016.