Low Protein Diet Fights Depression in Diabetics

NAPLES, Italy—Consuming a low-protein diet six days a week may significantly reduce depressive symptoms in type 2 diabetics with renal failure, according to a new study (Nutrition. ePub 14 May 2010). Researchers at the Second University of Naples enrolled 52 young-old type 2 diabetic patients with renal failure to determine the effects of a low-protein diet on depressive symptoms. Participants consumed either a low-protein diet providing 0.8 g/kg per day, seven days a week, or the diet for six days a week. Results on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were compared to baseline during normal protein diet. While depression scores increased significantly during the normal protein diet regimen, the six-days-a-week low-protein diet significantly reduced those scores, even more than the seven-days-a-week diet.