A randomized study of 74 patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrates that a vegetarian diet outperforms a conventional low-calorie anti-diabetic diet, leading to greater weight loss and improved metabolism through reduced intramuscular fat. Participants followed either the vegetarian diet—rich in vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, and nuts, with animal products limited to one daily serving of low-fat yogurt—or the standard diet based on European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) guidelines. Both were calorie-restricted by 500 kcal daily from each individual's maintenance intake.
The vegetarian group achieved nearly twice the weight loss: an average of 6.2 kg versus 3.2 kg for the conventional diet. Both reduced subcutaneous fat similarly.
