Date of Award

2015

Degree Type

Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review

Degree Name

Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

Department Chair

John Cavenagh, MBA, PhD, PA-C

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine if a vegetarian diet is more effective in improving quality of life in Type 2 Diabetics compared to other diabetic diets.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of two randomized control trials published in 2011 and 2013, and one prospective clinical intervention study published in 2010.

DATA SOURCES: Data sources were articles published in peer review journals found using PubMed and Cochrane Databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Quality of life was measured by amount of weight loss from baseline and Obesity and Weight-Loss Quality of Life (OWLQOL) questionnaires.

RESULTS: Ferdowsian et al (2010) reported that the vegetarian group lost an average of 5.1 kg during the 22 week trial, compared to the control group which gained an average of 0.1 kg. Kahleova et al (2011) reported that on average people in the vegetarian group lost 3 kg more body weight than the control group. Kahleova (2013) demonstrated that the vegetarian group reported higher scores for weight-loss related quality of life on the OWLQOL questionnaire.

CONCLUSIONS: The results of the two randomized control trials and prospective clinical intervention study demonstrate that a vegetarian diet did lead to improved quality of life when compared to other diabetic diets. Future study is warranted to evaluate quality of life over a long term period. The trials were not double blind studies and had a relatively small sample size, which may have limited the data formulated.

Download

Share

COinS