Summary of included studies

Study IDDesign/sampleInterventionFindingsConclusion
Li et al. [20]A 12-week randomized clinical trial
Sample: 60 overweight or obese patients newly diagnosed with T2D
KD: n = 30
Control group: n = 30
For the KD group: carbohydrate 30–50 g, protein 60 g, fat 130 g, and total calories 1500 ± 50 kcal
For the control group: carbohydrate 250–280 g, protein 60 g, fat 20 g, total calories 1500 ± 50 kcal
For the two groups, the BMI, TG, waist, weight, HbA1c, FINS, TC, FBG, HDL, and LDL were reduced following the intervention (P < 0.05). Blood glucose, blood lipid, and body mass drop rates in the KD group were substantially greater than in the control group (P < 0.05)In patients with T2D who are obese or overweight, a KD can control not only weight but blood lipids and glucose levels as well
Moriconi et al. [21]A 12-month retrospective observational study
Sample: thirty patients with obesity and T2D, aged between 35 years and 75 years
VLCKD: n = 15
LCD: n = 15
15 Subjects received a VLCKD diet, and 15 received an LCD diet, with the same follow-up and assessments for the duration of the investigation in both groupsSignificant weight loss was observed in the VLCKD group at 3 (8.5% from baseline, P = 0.000) and 12 months (11.5% from baseline, P = 0.000), while there was no significant change in weight in the LCD group (P = 0.706 at T1, P = 0.623 at T2)
In the VLCKD group, there was a significant decrease in HbA1c at both time points, while in the LCD group, minor and statistically insignificant changes were observed
The research confirmed that a VLCKD is an effective and safe tool in the management of T2D and obesity. VLCKDs can result in a decrease, or even suspension, of pharmacological therapy, potentially causing remission of the disease

T2D: type 2 diabetes; TG: triglycerides; FINS: fasting insulin; TC: total cholesterol; FBG: fasting blood glucose; VLCKD: very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet; LCD: low-calories diet; BMI: body mass index; KD: ketogenic diet; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; LDL: low-density lipoprotein