Cross-sectional association between the isocaloric replacement of carbohydrates with protein and fat in relation to fat compartments distribution and hepatic lipid content in recent-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Abstract Background Diets restricted in carbohydrates may be beneficial for diabetes management. However, without reducing energy intake, carbohydrate restriction results in increased protein and fat intake. Understanding how this macronutrient substitution is associated with adipose tissue distribu...

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Main Authors: Alexander Lang, Edyta Schaefer, Yuliya Kupriyanova, Janina Goletzke, Katharina S. Weber, Anette E. Buyken, Sabine Kahl, Oana-Patricia Zaharia, Christian Herder, Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling, Oliver Kuss, Robert Wagner, Michael Roden, Sabrina Schlesinger, German Diabetes Study Group
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Nutrition Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01145-1
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author Alexander Lang
Edyta Schaefer
Yuliya Kupriyanova
Janina Goletzke
Katharina S. Weber
Anette E. Buyken
Sabine Kahl
Oana-Patricia Zaharia
Christian Herder
Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling
Oliver Kuss
Robert Wagner
Michael Roden
Sabrina Schlesinger
German Diabetes Study Group
author_facet Alexander Lang
Edyta Schaefer
Yuliya Kupriyanova
Janina Goletzke
Katharina S. Weber
Anette E. Buyken
Sabine Kahl
Oana-Patricia Zaharia
Christian Herder
Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling
Oliver Kuss
Robert Wagner
Michael Roden
Sabrina Schlesinger
German Diabetes Study Group
author_sort Alexander Lang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Diets restricted in carbohydrates may be beneficial for diabetes management. However, without reducing energy intake, carbohydrate restriction results in increased protein and fat intake. Understanding how this macronutrient substitution is associated with adipose tissue distribution is important to prevent diabetes progression. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the isocaloric substitution of carbohydrates with fat and protein in relation to subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and hepatic lipid (HL) content in individuals with recent-onset type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), accounting for macronutrient quality. Methods This cross-sectional analysis includes participants with T1D (n = 137) and T2D (n = 170) from the German Diabetes Study (GDS). Dietary macronutrient intake was derived from dietary information assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. SAT and VAT were measured with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, while HL content with 1H MR spectroscopy. Isocaloric substitution analyses based on multivariable linear regression models were conducted to examine the replacement of total and higher glycemic index (GI) carbohydrates in energy percent (En%) with total fat, monounsaturated (MUFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA), and saturated fatty acids (SFA), and protein in regard to SAT, VAT and HL content. Results In individuals with T1D, substituting carbohydrates with total fat was not associated with SAT, while substituting carbohydrates with protein demonstrated higher SAT [β (95% CI) per 5 En%: 3100 cm3 (25, 6200)]. In individuals with T2D, replacing carbohydrates with total fat or protein showed no association with SAT and VAT. However, substituting carbohydrates with PUFA was associated with lower VAT [-970 cm3 (-1900, -40)] and HL content [-3.3% (-6.9, 0.4)], while replacing carbohydrates with SFA was associated with higher HL content [2.4% (-0.6, 5.4)]. Substituting carbohydrates with protein was associated with lower HL content in individuals with T2D [-2.4% (-4.9, 0.0)], mainly driven by plant-based protein. There were no substantial differences between the replacement of total and higher GI carbohydrates. Conclusions The quality of substituted nutrients may play an important role for adipose tissue and HL accumulation in individuals with T2D. Particularly, integrating PUFAs and plant-based proteins into the diet seems beneficial for VAT and HL content.
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spelling doaj-art-87df1103241f40cf9a229031b1da47522025-08-20T01:49:36ZengBMCNutrition Journal1475-28912025-05-0124111210.1186/s12937-025-01145-1Cross-sectional association between the isocaloric replacement of carbohydrates with protein and fat in relation to fat compartments distribution and hepatic lipid content in recent-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetesAlexander Lang0Edyta Schaefer1Yuliya Kupriyanova2Janina Goletzke3Katharina S. Weber4Anette E. Buyken5Sabine Kahl6Oana-Patricia Zaharia7Christian Herder8Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling9Oliver Kuss10Robert Wagner11Michael Roden12Sabrina Schlesinger13German Diabetes Study GroupGerman Diabetes Center, Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, Research Group Systematic Reviews, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfGerman Diabetes Center, Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, Research Group Systematic Reviews, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfGerman Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Partner DüsseldorfDepartment of Sports and Health, Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, Paderborn UniversityInstitute of Epidemiology, Kiel UniversityDepartment of Sports and Health, Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, Paderborn UniversityInstitute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfGerman Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Partner DüsseldorfGerman Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Partner DüsseldorfGerman Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Partner DüsseldorfGerman Diabetes Center, Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, Research Group Systematic Reviews, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfGerman Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Partner DüsseldorfDivision of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfGerman Diabetes Center, Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, Research Group Systematic Reviews, Leibniz Center for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University DüsseldorfAbstract Background Diets restricted in carbohydrates may be beneficial for diabetes management. However, without reducing energy intake, carbohydrate restriction results in increased protein and fat intake. Understanding how this macronutrient substitution is associated with adipose tissue distribution is important to prevent diabetes progression. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the isocaloric substitution of carbohydrates with fat and protein in relation to subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and hepatic lipid (HL) content in individuals with recent-onset type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), accounting for macronutrient quality. Methods This cross-sectional analysis includes participants with T1D (n = 137) and T2D (n = 170) from the German Diabetes Study (GDS). Dietary macronutrient intake was derived from dietary information assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. SAT and VAT were measured with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, while HL content with 1H MR spectroscopy. Isocaloric substitution analyses based on multivariable linear regression models were conducted to examine the replacement of total and higher glycemic index (GI) carbohydrates in energy percent (En%) with total fat, monounsaturated (MUFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA), and saturated fatty acids (SFA), and protein in regard to SAT, VAT and HL content. Results In individuals with T1D, substituting carbohydrates with total fat was not associated with SAT, while substituting carbohydrates with protein demonstrated higher SAT [β (95% CI) per 5 En%: 3100 cm3 (25, 6200)]. In individuals with T2D, replacing carbohydrates with total fat or protein showed no association with SAT and VAT. However, substituting carbohydrates with PUFA was associated with lower VAT [-970 cm3 (-1900, -40)] and HL content [-3.3% (-6.9, 0.4)], while replacing carbohydrates with SFA was associated with higher HL content [2.4% (-0.6, 5.4)]. Substituting carbohydrates with protein was associated with lower HL content in individuals with T2D [-2.4% (-4.9, 0.0)], mainly driven by plant-based protein. There were no substantial differences between the replacement of total and higher GI carbohydrates. Conclusions The quality of substituted nutrients may play an important role for adipose tissue and HL accumulation in individuals with T2D. Particularly, integrating PUFAs and plant-based proteins into the diet seems beneficial for VAT and HL content.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01145-1Isocaloric substitutionFood frequency questionnaireCarbohydratesFatProteinGlycemic index
spellingShingle Alexander Lang
Edyta Schaefer
Yuliya Kupriyanova
Janina Goletzke
Katharina S. Weber
Anette E. Buyken
Sabine Kahl
Oana-Patricia Zaharia
Christian Herder
Vera B. Schrauwen-Hinderling
Oliver Kuss
Robert Wagner
Michael Roden
Sabrina Schlesinger
German Diabetes Study Group
Cross-sectional association between the isocaloric replacement of carbohydrates with protein and fat in relation to fat compartments distribution and hepatic lipid content in recent-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Nutrition Journal
Isocaloric substitution
Food frequency questionnaire
Carbohydrates
Fat
Protein
Glycemic index
title Cross-sectional association between the isocaloric replacement of carbohydrates with protein and fat in relation to fat compartments distribution and hepatic lipid content in recent-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes
title_full Cross-sectional association between the isocaloric replacement of carbohydrates with protein and fat in relation to fat compartments distribution and hepatic lipid content in recent-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes
title_fullStr Cross-sectional association between the isocaloric replacement of carbohydrates with protein and fat in relation to fat compartments distribution and hepatic lipid content in recent-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes
title_full_unstemmed Cross-sectional association between the isocaloric replacement of carbohydrates with protein and fat in relation to fat compartments distribution and hepatic lipid content in recent-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes
title_short Cross-sectional association between the isocaloric replacement of carbohydrates with protein and fat in relation to fat compartments distribution and hepatic lipid content in recent-onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes
title_sort cross sectional association between the isocaloric replacement of carbohydrates with protein and fat in relation to fat compartments distribution and hepatic lipid content in recent onset type 1 and type 2 diabetes
topic Isocaloric substitution
Food frequency questionnaire
Carbohydrates
Fat
Protein
Glycemic index
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-025-01145-1
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