Long-term adherence to the New Nordic Diet and the effects on body weight, anthropometry and blood pressure: a 12-month follow-up study Health effect of the New Nordic Diet in adults with increased waist circumference: a 6-mo randomized controlled trial. Effects of a healthy Nordic diet on cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolaemic subjects: a randomized controlled trial (NORDIET). Association between Mediterranean and Nordic diet scores and changes in weight and waist circumference: influence of FTO and TCF7L2 loci. Effects of lifestyle changes including specific dietary intervention and physical activity in the management of patients with chronic hepatitis C – a randomized trial The effect of the addition of resistance training to a dietary education intervention on apolipoproteins and diet quality in overweight and obese older adults Dietary Composition, Body Weight, and NIDDM: Comparison of high-fiber, high-carbohydrate, and modified-fat diets Beneficial Effect of Low-Glycemic Index Diet in Overweight NIDDM Subjects Potentiation of Effects of Weight Loss by Monounsaturated Fatty Acids in Obese NIDDM Patients Effects of varying carbohydrate content of diet in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study. Dietary fiber and the glycemic index: a background paper for the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2012 Effects of school meals based on the New Nordic Diet on intake of signature foods: a randomised controlled trial. The OPUS School Meal Study. Association of 1-y changes in diet pattern with cardiovascular disease risk factors and adipokines: results from the 1-y randomized Oslo Diet and Exercise Study. Adherence to a Healthy Nordic Food Index Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Type-2 Diabetes—The Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Cohort Study Influence of a healthy Nordic diet on serum fatty acid composition and associations with blood lipoproteins – results from the NORDIET study Effects of a reduced-glycemic-load diet on body weight, body composition, and cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight and obese adults.
Abstract Purpose The New Nordic Diet ( NND ) has induced weight loss in a 26-week controlled intervention . We aim to investigate whether high compliance and satisfaction can be maintained after the active intervention is discontinued thereby maintaining the health effects . Methods After 26 weeks of intervention with NND or Average Danish Diet ( ADD ) , 147 participants ( mean age 43 years and mean BMI 29.1 kg/m2 ) were followed for further 52 weeks . All participants were encouraged to follow NND but without further guidance . The study is registered with Clinical Trials.gov , study i d NCT01195610 . Results One hundred and ten participants ( 75 % ) completed the follow-up . Among participants previously r and omised to NND ( NND group ) , dietary compliance and satisfaction decreased from 4.3 to 3.0 and from 4.8 to 4.0 , respectively ( both p < 0.0001 ) ( 1–5 point scale ) . Among those originally r and omised to ADD ( ADD group ) , satisfaction with NND was significantly higher than with ADD during follow-up ( 3.3 vs. 2.5 , p = 0.026 ) . Weight losses during intervention of −6.2 kg and −3.0 kg were followed by regains of 4.6 kg ( SE 0.5 ) and 1.1 kg ( SE 0.7 ) for the NND group and ADD group , respectively [ adjusted difference ; mean ( 95 % CI ) : 1.8 kg ( 0.1–3.4 ) , p = 0.041 ] . Across diet groups , every 1 score higher in compliance with NND was associated with 0.90 kg less body weight regain ( p = 0.026 ) and those who increased physical activity regained 3.4 kg less compared to those who did not ( p < 0.0001 ) . Conclusions NND  provides higher satisfaction , and body weight regain is reduced with higher compliance with NND and increased physical activity BACKGROUND The regional Mediterranean Diet has been associated with lower risk of disease . OBJECTIVE We tested the health effects of the New Nordic Diet ( NND ) , which is a gastronomically driven regional , organic , and environmentally friendly diet , in a carefully controlled but free-living setting . DESIGN A total of 181 central ly obese men and women , with a mean ( range ) age of 42 y ( 20 - 66 y ) , body mass index ( in kg/m(2 ) ) of 30.2 ( 22.6 - 47.3 ) , and waist circumference of 100 cm ( 80 - 138 cm ) were r and omly assigned to receive either the NND ( high in fruit , vegetables , whole grains , and fish ) or an average Danish diet ( ADD ) for 26 wk . Participants received cookbooks and all foods ad libitum and free of charge by using a shop model . The primary endpoint was the weight change analyzed by both completer and intention-to-treat analyses . RESULTS A total of 147 subjects [ 81 % ( NND 81 % ; ADD 82 % ) ] completed the intervention . A high dietary compliance was achieved , with significant differences in dietary intakes between groups . The mean ( ±SEM ) weight change was -4.7 ± 0.5 kg for the NND compared with -1.5 ± 0.5 kg for the ADD ( adjusted difference : -3.2 kg ; 95 % CI : -4.6 , -1.8 kg ; P < 0.001 ) for the completer analysis , and the difference was -3.0 kg ( 95 % CI : -4.0 , -2.1 kg ) for the intention-to-treat analysis . The NND produced greater reductions in systolic blood pressure ( adjusted difference : -5.1 mm Hg ; 95 % CI : -8.2 , -2.1 mm Hg ) and diastolic blood pressure ( adjusted difference : -3.2 mm Hg ; 95 % CI : -5.7 , -0.8 mm Hg ) than did the ADD . CONCLUSION An ad libitum NND produces weight loss and blood pressure reduction in central ly obese individuals . This trial was registered at www . clinical trials.gov as NCT01195610 OBJECTIVE the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a healthy Nordic diet ( ND ) on cardiovascular risk factors . DESIGN AND SUBJECTS in a r and omized controlled trial ( NORDIET ) conducted in Sweden , 88 mildly hypercholesterolaemic subjects were r and omly assigned to an ad libitum ND or control diet ( subjects ' usual Western diet ) for 6 weeks . Participants in the ND group were provided with all meals and foods . Primary outcome measurements were low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol , and secondary outcomes were blood pressure ( BP ) and insulin sensitivity ( fasting insulin and homeostatic model assessment -insulin resistance ) . The ND was rich in high-fibre plant foods , fruits , berries , vegetables , whole grains , rapeseed oil , nuts , fish and low-fat milk products , but low in salt , added sugars and saturated fats . RESULTS the ND contained 27 % , 52 % , 19 % and 2 % of energy from fat , carbohydrate , protein and alcohol , respectively . In total , 86 of 88 subjects r and omly assigned to diet completed the study . Compared with controls , there was a decrease in plasma cholesterol ( -16 % , P < 0.001 ) , LDL cholesterol ( -21 % , P < 0.001 ) , high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol ( -5 % , P < 0.01 ) , LDL/HDL ( -14 % , P < 0.01 ) and apolipoprotein (apo)B/apoA1 ( -1 % , P < 0.05 ) in the ND group . The ND reduced insulin ( -9 % , P = 0.01 ) and systolic BP by -6.6 ± 13.2 mmHg ( -5 % , P < 0.05 ) compared with the control diet . Despite the ad libitum nature of the ND , body weight decreased after 6 weeks in the ND compared with the control group ( -4 % , P < 0.001 ) . After adjustment for weight change , the significant differences between groups remained for blood lipids , but not for insulin sensitivity or BP . There were no significant differences in diastolic BP or triglyceride or glucose concentrations . CONCLUSIONS a healthy ND improves blood lipid profile and insulin sensitivity and lowers blood pressure at clinical ly relevant levels in hypercholesterolaemic subjects BACKGROUND Several studies have shown that adherence to the Mediterranean Diet measured by using the Mediterranean diet score ( MDS ) is associated with lower obesity risk . The newly proposed Nordic Diet could hold similar beneficial effects . Because of the increasing focus on the interaction between diet and genetic predisposition to adiposity , studies should consider both diet and genetics . OBJECTIVE We investigated whether FTO rs9939609 and TCF7L2 rs7903146 modified the association between the MDS and Nordic diet score ( NDS ) and changes in weight ( Δweight ) , waist circumference ( ΔWC ) , and waist circumference adjusted for body mass index ( BMI ) ( ΔWC BMI ) . DESIGN We conducted a case-cohort study with a median follow-up of 6.8 y that included 11,048 participants from 5 European countries ; 5552 of these subjects were cases defined as individuals with the greatest degree of unexplained weight gain during follow-up . A r and omly selected subcohort included 6548 participants , including 5496 noncases . Cases and noncases were compared in analyses by using logistic regression . Continuous traits ( ie , Δweight , ΔWC , and ΔWC BMI ) were analyzed by using linear regression models in the r and om subcohort . Interactions were tested by including interaction terms in models . RESULTS A higher MDS was significantly inversely associated with case status ( OR : 0.98 ; 95 % CI : 0.96 , 1.00 ) , ΔWC ( β = -0.010 cm/y ; 95 % CI : -0.020 , -0.001 cm/y ) , and ΔWC BMI ( β = -0.008 ; 95 % CI:-0.015 , -0.001 ) per 1-point increment but not Δweight ( P = 0.53 ) . The NDS was not significantly associated with any outcome . There was a borderline significant interaction between the MDS and TCF7L2 rs7903146 on weight gain ( P = 0.05 ) , which suggested a beneficial effect of the MDS only in subjects who carried 1 or 2 risk alleles . FTO did not modify observed associations . CONCLUSIONS A high MDS is associated with a lower ΔWC and ΔWC BMI , regardless of FTO and TCF7L2 risk alleles . For Δweight , findings were less clear , but the effect may depend on the TCF7L2 rs7903146 variant . The NDS was not associated with anthropometric changes during follow-up Background In patients with chronic hepatitis C ( CHC ) , obesity is involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance , fatty liver disease and progression of fibrosis . The objective of this study was to compare a normoglucidic low-calorie diet ( NGLCD ) with a low-fat diet ( LFD ) among participants with CHC . Aim ed to measure the impact of dietary changes in reduction of insulin resistance , obesity but also in steatosis and fibrosis . Methods R and omized , controlled trial in three medical centers with assessment s at baseline , 6 months and 12 months . Participants were patients over 35 years with chronic hepatitis C ( n = 120 ) with BMI over 25 kg/m2 . We evaluated the effects of NGLCD vs. LFD in weight management and metabolic improvement . The primary endpoint was to measure the impact of dietary changes through nutritional intervention in reversibility of insulin resistance , obesity , steatosis , and fibrosis . We performed anthropometric measurements , fasting glucose profile , serum lipids , liver profile , blood count at baseline , 6 and 12 months . Steatosis was evaluated using ultrasonographic criteria . Liver fibrosis was non-invasively assessed . Results After 6 and 12 months of intervention , both groups had a significant decrease in caloric consumption . At 6 months , weight loss was greater in the NGLCD group ( −5.02 ± 3.43 kg vs. −4.1 ± 2.6 kg ; p = 0.002 ) compared to the LFD group . At 1-year , however , weight loss was similar in both groups ( −3.9 ± 3.3 kg vs. −3.1 ± 2.6 kg ; p = 0.139 ) . At 12 months , fasting plasma glucose , fasting plasma insulin , and HOMA-IR had significant improvements in both groups . With both diets aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ) , alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ) , gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase ( GGT ) decreased with significant differences ; also there were significant improvements in AST/ALT ratio , Forns fibrosis index . The two diets were associated with reduction of both the prevalence and the severity of steatosis ( all p < 0.001 ) . At 12 months , total cholesterol , HDL-cholesterol , triglycerides improved in both groups ( all p < 0.05 ) . Conclusions The present study establishes the benefits of low-calorie diet and low-fat diet in management of patients with hepatitis C regarding improvement of insulin resistance , steatosis and also fibrosis . Overweight or obese patients with CHC undergoing a lifestyle intervention ( specific dietary intervention and physical activity ) for 1-year had significant improvements in body weight , lipid and hepatic profile . Trial registration PNCI2 - Objectives The aim of the study was to examine the additive effect of resistance training ( RT ) to a dietary education ( DE ) intervention on emerging coronary heart disease ( CHD ) risk factors , concentration of apolipoproteins B ( apoB ) and A-I ( apoA-I ) , and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension ( DASH ) Diet Index scores in overweight and obese older adults . Patients and methods This was an ancillary study of a r and omized clinical trial held in the Fall of 2008 at the University of Rhode Isl and . Participants were overweight or obese subjects ( mean body mass index [ BMI ] of 31.7 kg/m2 ) r and omized into two groups , one participating in DE only ( n = 12 ) and the other participating in DE plus RT ( DERT ) ( n = 15 ) . The intervention involved all subjects participating in 30 minutes of DE per week for 10 weeks . Subjects in the DERT group participated in an additional 40 minutes of RT three times per week for 10 weeks . Measurements taken were anthropometric ( height , weight , waist circumference , and body composition using the BOD POD ® [ Body Composition System , v 2.14 ; Life Measurement Instruments , Concord , CA ] ) , clinical ( blood pressure ) , and biochemical ( lipid profile and apoB and apoA-I concentrations ) , and the DASH Diet Index was used to measure diet quality . Results 27 subjects ( 11 males , 16 females ) , with a mean age of 66.6 ± 4.3 years , were included in analyses . The DERT subjects had significantly better triacylglycerol and apoB concentrations and DASH Diet Index scores than the DE subjects post-intervention . Improvements were seen within the DE group in energy intake , fat-free mass , and systolic blood pressure and within the DERT group in body weight , percentage of body fat , BMI , diastolic blood pressure , and oxidized low-density lipoprotein ( all P < 0.05 ) . Conclusion The addition of RT effectively reduced CHD risk factors , body composition , and diet quality in overweight and obese older adults ; DERT was more effective than DE alone in improving DASH Diet Index scores and lowering apoB concentrations but was not more effective in increasing apoA-I concentrations . Future research is needed to determine if apolipoproteins are superior to lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in predicting CHD risk OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of a high-carbohydrate low-fat ( HCLF ) and a modified-fat ( MF ) diet on body weight and metabolic control in subjects with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ( NIDDM ) living at home . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Twenty-four NIDDM patients followed HCLF and MF diets alternately and in r and om order for a 3-month period while at home , with a 1-month baseline and washout between diets . Before and after each diet , fasting glucose and lipids , HbAlc , blood pressure , and body weight were measured . Dietary preferences were assessed by question naire . RESULTS Subjects consumed 50 % of energy as carbohydrate and 23 % as fat on the HCLF diet and 40 % of energy as carbohydrate and 36 % as fat ( over half of which was monounsaturated fat ) on the MF diet . Subjects lost weight on both HCLF and MF diets ( mean loss 0.7 and 1.3 kg , respectively ) . Although the MF diet result ed in a small decrease in fasting glucose levels , there was no significant change in HbA1c . Similarly , there was no significant difference between the diets in changes in blood pressure or fasting blood lipids . Most subjects ( 65 % ) preferred the MF diet . CONCLUSIONS Although the MF diet is not a low-fat diet , it did not appear to facilitate weight gain in subjects with NIDDM living at home . The MF diet provides an alternative for individuals unable to comply with HCLF diets Objectives To determine whether low-glycemic index ( GI ) diets have clinical utility in overweight patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ( NIDDM ) . Research Design and Methods Six patients with NIDDM were studied on both high- and low-GI diets of 6-wk duration with metabolic diets with a r and omized crossover design . Both diets were of similar composition ( 57 % carbohydrate , 23 % fat , and 34 g/day dietary fiber ) , but the low-GI diet had a GI of 58 compared with 86 for the high-GI diet . Results Small and similar amounts of weight were lost on both diets : 2.5 kg on high-GI diet and 1.8 kg on low-GI diet . On the low-GI diet , the mean level of serum fructosamine , as an index of overall blood glucose control , was lower than on the high-GI diet by 8 % ( P < 0.05 ) , and total serum cholesterol was lower by 7 % ( P < 0.01 ) . Conclusions In overweight patients with NIDDM , reducing diet GI improves overall blood glucose and lipid control Although moderate weight loss improves glycemic control in obese NIDDM patients , quite often it is not normalized . To determine whether the response to weight loss can be improved by altering the macronutrient composition of hypocaloric diets , 17 obese NIDDM patients were studied at 1 ) baseline , 2 ) after dieting for 6 weeks on a formula diet enriched in either monounsaturated fatty acids ( MUFAs , n = 9 ) or carbohydrates ( CHOs , n = 8) at a 50 % caloric deficit , and 3 ) after 4 weeks of postdiet refeeding on the respective formulas with caloric intake titrated to achieve weight maintenance . Fasting , 24-h , and oral glucose tolerance test ( OGTT ) blood glucose , plasma insulin , and C-peptide levels were measured . All prediet parameters were similar between groups . After dieting , although weight loss was similar between groups , the fasting glucose level decreased significantly more in the MUFA group ( −4.6 ± 0.7 mmol/l ) than in the CHO group ( −2.4 ± 1.0 mmol/l ; P < 0.05 ) . Twenty-four – hour glycemia decreased in both groups after dieting , but the MUFA group had a greater decrease than the CHO group ( P < 0.05 , analysis of variance [ ANOVA ] ) . Although decreases in fasting glycemia were maintained in both groups after refeeding , postpr and ial glycemia deteriorated after refeeding with the CHO- but not the MUFA-enriched formula ( P < 0.05 ) . After dieting and refeeding , fasting C-peptide increased 204 ± 47 pmol/l in the MUFA group , but the CHO group remained at prediet levels ( P < 0.05 ) . Twenty-four-hour C-peptide levels were similar between groups after dieting and refeeding , despite the lower glycemia and CHO content of the MUFA formula . However , when equal amounts of CHO were consumed during the OGTT , the MUFA group had significantly higher C-peptide levels after both dieting and refeeding ( P < 0.05 ) . Fasting , 24-h , and OGTT insulin levels were similar between groups throughout the study . These results indicate that macronutrient composition is an important determinant of the glycemic response to weight-loss therapy in obese NIDDM patients . Based on the C-peptide response during the OGTT , increased CHO-induced insulin secretion is one possible mechanism by which this occurs OBJECTIVE To study effects of variation in carbohydrate content of diet on glycemia and plasma lipoproteins in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus ( NIDDM ) . DESIGN A four-center r and omized crossover trial . SETTING Outpatient and inpatient evaluation in metabolic units . PATIENTS Forty-two NIDDM patients receiving glipizide therapy .  INTERVENTIONS A high-carbohydrate diet containing 55 % of the total energy as carbohydrates and 30 % as fats was compared with a high-monounsaturated-fat diet containing 40 % carbohydrates and 45 % fats . The amounts of saturated fats , polyunsaturated fats , cholesterol , sucrose , and protein were similar . The study diets , prepared in metabolic kitchens , were provided as the sole nutrients to subjects for 6 weeks each . To assess longer-term effects , a subgroup of 21 patients continued the diet they received second for an additional 8 weeks . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Fasting plasma glucose , insulin , lipoproteins , and glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations . Twenty-four-hour profiles of glucose , insulin , and triglyceride levels . RESULTS The site of study as well as the diet order did not affect the results . Compared with the high-monounsaturated-fat diet , the high-carbohydrate diet increased fasting plasma triglyceride levels and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 24 % ( P < .0001 ) and 23 % ( P = .0001 ) , respectively , and increased daylong plasma triglyceride , glucose , and insulin values by 10 % ( P = .03 ) , 12 % ( P < .0001 ) , and 9 % ( P = .02 ) , respectively . Plasma total cholesterol , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels remained unchanged . The effects of both diets on plasma glucose , insulin , and triglyceride levels persisted for 14 weeks . CONCLUSIONS In NIDDM patients , high-carbohydrate diets compared with high-monounsaturated-fat diets caused persistent deterioration of glycemic control and accentuation of hyperinsulinemia , as well as increased plasma triglyceride and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels , which may not be desirable The aim of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study is to assess the efficacy of an intensive diet-exercise programme in preventing or delaying  type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance ( IGT ) and to evaluate the effect of the programme on the risk factors of atherosclerotic vascular diseases and the incidence of cardiovascular events . In this ongoing study , a total of 523 overweight subjects with IGT based on two oral glucose tolerance tests were r and omized to either an intervention group or a control group . The main measure in the intervention group is individual dietary advice aim ed at reducing weight and intake of saturated fat and increasing intake of dietary fibre . The intervention subjects are individually guided to increase their level of physical activity .  The control group receives general information about the benefits of weight reduction , physical activity and healthy diet in the prevention of diabetes . A pilot study began in 1993 , and recruitment ended in 1998 . By the end of April 1999 there were 65 new cases of diabetes , 34 drop-outs and one death . The weight reduction was greater ( -4.6 kg ) at 1 year in the intervention group ( n = 152 ) than in the control group ( n = 143 , -0.9 kg , P < 0.0001 ) , and this difference was sustained in the second year of follow-up . At 1 year 43.4 % and at 2 years 41.8 % of the intervention subjects had achieved a weight reduction of at least 5 kg , while the corresponding figures for the control subjects were 14.0 and 12.0 % ( P < 0.001 between the groups ) . At 1 year the intervention group showed significantly greater reductions in 2 h glucose , fasting and 2 h insulin , systolic and diastolic blood pressure , and serum triglycerides . Most of the beneficial changes in cardiovascular risk factors were sustained for 2 years . These interim results of the ongoing Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study demonstrate the efficacy and feasibility of the lifestyle intervention programme The aim of this study is to review recent data on dietary fiber ( DF ) and the glycemic index ( GI ) , with special focus on studies from the Nordic countries regarding cardiometabolic risk factors , type 2 diabetes , cardiovascular disease , cancer , and total mortality . In this study , recent guidelines and scientific background papers or up date s on older reports on DF and GI published between 2000 and 2011 from the US , EU , WHO , and the World Cancer Research Fund were review ed , as well as prospect i ve cohort and intervention studies carried out in the Nordic countries . All of the reports support the role for fiber-rich foods and DF as an important part of a healthy diet . All of the five identified Nordic papers found protective associations between high intake of DF and health outcomes ; lower risk of cardiovascular disease , type 2 diabetes , colorectal and breast cancer . None of the reports and few of the Nordic papers found clear evidence for the GI in prevention of risk factors or diseases in healthy population s , although association was found in sub-groups , e.g. overweight and obese individuals and suggestive for prevention of type 2 diabetes . It was concluded that DF is associated with decreased risk of different chronic diseases and metabolic conditions . There is not enough evidence that choosing foods with low GI will decrease the risk of chronic diseases in the population overall . However , there is suggestive evidence that ranking food based on their GI might be of use for overweight and obese individuals . Issues regarding methodology , validity and practicality of the GI remain to be clarified A New Nordic Diet ( NND ) was developed in the context of the Danish OPUS Study ( Optimal well-being , development and health for Danish children through a healthy New Nordic Diet ) . Health , gastronomic potential , sustainability and Nordic identity were crucial principles of the NND . The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of serving NND school meals compared with the usual packed lunches on the dietary intake of NND signature foods . For two 3-month periods , 834 Danish children aged 8 - 11 years received NND school meals or their usual packed lunches brought from home ( control ) in r and om order . The entire diet was recorded over 7 consecutive days using a vali date d Web-based Dietary Assessment Software for Children . The NND result ed in higher intakes during the entire week ( % increase ) of root vegetables ( 116 ( 95 % CI 1·93 , 2·42 ) ) , cabbage ( 26 ( 95 % CI 1·08 , 1·47 ) ) , legumes ( 22 ( 95 % CI 1·06 , 1·40 ) ) , herbs ( 175 ( 95 % CI 2·36 , 3·20 ) ) , fresh berries ( 48 ( 95 % CI 1·13 , 1·94 ) ) , nuts and seeds ( 18 ( 95 % CI 1·02 , 1·38 ) ) , lean fish and fish products ( 47 ( 95 % CI 1·31 , 1·66 ) ) , fat fish and fish products ( 18 ( 95 % CI 1·02 , 1·37 ) ) and potatoes ( 129 ( 95 % CI 2·05 , 2·56 ) ) . Furthermore , there was a decrease in the number of children with zero intakes when their habitual packed lunches were replaced by NND school meals . In conclusion , this study showed that the children increased their intake of NND signature foods , and , furthermore , there was a decrease in the number of children with zero intakes of NND signature foods when their habitual packed lunches were replaced by school meals following the NND principles BACKGROUND We hypothesized that favorable changes in dietary patterns would lead to a reduction in body size and an improvement in metabolic status . OBJECTIVE The objective was to study changes in diet patterns relative to changes in body size , blood pressure , and circulating concentrations of lipids , glucose , insulin , adiponectin , and other cytokines in the context of a 1-y r and omized intervention study . DESIGN For 1 y , 187 men aged 45 + /- 2 y , approximately 50 % of whom met the criteria of the metabolic syndrome , were r and omly assigned to a diet protocol ( n = 45 ) , an exercise protocol ( n = 48 ) , a protocol of diet plus exercise ( n = 58 ) , or a control protocol ( n = 36 ) . A previously defined a priori diet score was created by summing tertile rankings of 35 food group variables ; a higher score generally reflected recommended dietary changes in the trial ( mean + /- SD at baseline : 31 + /- 6.5 ; range : 15 - 47 ) . RESULTS Over the study year , the diet score increased by approximately 2 + /- 5.5 in both diet groups , with a decrease of an equivalent amount in the exercise and control groups . The weight change was -3.5 + /- 0.6 kg/10-point change in diet score ( P < 0.0001 ) , similarly within each intervention group , independently of the change in energy intake or baseline age and smoking status . Weight change was attenuated but remained significant after adjustment for intervention group and percentage body fat . Subjects with an increased diet score had more favorable changes in other body size variables , systolic blood pressure , and blood lipid , glucose , insulin , and adiponectin concentrations . Change in diet score was unrelated to resistin and several cytokines . CONCLUSION The change toward a more favorable diet pattern was associated with improved body size and metabolic profile Background : Type-2 diabetes ( T2D ) prevalence is rapidly increasing worldwide . Lifestyle factors , in particular obesity , diet , and physical activity play a significant role in the etiology of the disease . Of dietary patterns , particularly the Mediterranean diet has been studied , and generally a protective association has been identified . However , other regional diets are less explored . Objective : The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between adherence to a healthy Nordic food index and the risk of T2D . The index consists of six food items : fish , cabbage , rye bread , oatmeal , apples and pears , and root vegetables . Methods : Data was obtained from a prospect i ve cohort study of 57,053 Danish men and women aged 50–64 years , at baseline , of whom 7366 developed T2D ( median follow-up : 15.3 years ) . The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association between the healthy Nordic food index and risk of T2D , adjusted for potential confounders . Results : Greater adherence to the  healthy Nordic food index was significantly associated with lower risk of T2D after adjusting for potential confounders . An index score of 5−6 points ( high adherence ) was associated with a statistically significantly 25 % lower T2D risk in women ( HR : 0.75 , 95%CI : 0.61–0.92 ) and 38 % in men ( HR : 0.62 ; 95%CI : 0.53–0.71 ) compared to those with an index score of 0 points ( poor adherence ) . Conclusion : Adherence to a healthy Nordic food index was found to be inversely associated with risk of T2D , suggesting that regional diets other than the Mediterranean may also be recommended for prevention of T2D Background The fatty acid ( FA ) composition of serum lipids is related to the quality of dietary fat intake . Objective To investigate the effects of a  healthy Nordic diet ( ND ) on the FA composition of serum cholesterol esters ( CE-FA ) and assess the associations between changes in the serum CE-FA composition and blood lipoproteins during a controlled dietary intervention . Design The NORDIET trial was a 6-week r and omised , controlled , parallel-group dietary intervention study that included 86 adults ( 53±8 years ) with elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C ) . Serum CE-FA composition was measured using gas chromatography . Diet history interviews were conducted , and daily intake was assessed using checklists . Results Food and nutrient intake data indicated that there was a reduction in the intake of fat from dairy and meat products and an increase in the consumption of fatty fish with the ND . The levels of saturated fatty acids in cholesterol esters ( CE-SFA ) 14:0 , 15:0 , and 18:0 , but not 16:0 , showed a significant decrease after intake of ND compared to the control diet ( p<0.01 ) . Also , a significant increase in serum 22:6n – 3 was observed compared with the control diet ( p<0.01 ) . The changes in CE-SFA 14:0 , 15:0 , and 18:0 correlated positively with changes in LDL-C , HDL-C , LDL-C/HDL-C , ApoA1 , and ApoB ( p<0.01 ) , respectively , whereas the changes in polyunsaturated fatty acids in cholesterol esters ( CE-PUFA ) 22:6n – 3 were negatively correlated with changes in the corresponding serum lipids . Conclusions The decreased intake of saturated fat and increased intake of n-3 PUFA in a  healthy ND is partly reflected by changes in the serum CE-FA composition , which are associated with an improved serum lipoprotein pattern BACKGROUND Lowering the dietary glycemic load and increasing protein intake may be advantageous for weight management . OBJECTIVE This r and omized controlled trial was design ed to evaluate the effects of an ad libitum reduced-glycemic-load ( RGL ) diet on body weight , body composition , and cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk markers in overweight and obese adults during an initial weight-loss phase ( 12 wk ) and a weight-loss maintenance phase ( weeks 24 - 36 ) . DESIGN Subjects were assigned to  RGL ( n = 43 ) or low-fat , portion-controlled ( control ; n = 43 ) diet groups . The RGL group was instructed to eat until satisfied , maintaining a low carbohydrate intake during weeks 0 - 2 and adding low-glycemic-index carbohydrate thereafter . Control subjects were instructed to reduce fat intake and decrease portion sizes , with a targeted energy deficit of 500 to 800 kcal/d . RESULTS The RGL group had lost significantly more weight than did the control group at week 12 ( -4.9 and -2.5 kg , respectively ; P = 0.002 ) , but the 2 groups did not differ significantly at week 36 ( -4.5 and -2.6 kg , respectively ; P = 0.085 ) . Changes in fat mass differed between the groups at week 12 ( -1.9 and -0.9 kg , respectively ; P = 0.016 ) but not at week 36 ( -2.0 and -1.3 kg , respectively ; P = 0.333 ) . At the end of the study , no differences were found in responses for CVD risk markers except a larger mean change in HDL cholesterol in the RGL group than in the control group ( 3.8 and 1.9 mg/dL , respectively ; P = 0.037 ) . CONCLUSION These findings provide evidence that an ad libitum RGL diet is a reasonable alternative to a low-fat , portion-controlled eating plan for weight management
Qualitative assessment of other anthropometric indices also showed a beneficial effect of this dietary pattern in improving body fat and BMI values ; however , these findings are not conclusive because of limited number of studies .
Adherence to the ND  significantly improves body weight ; however , there is also no certainty that this diet is effective for improving other anthropometric indices .
Studies on the effect of the Nordic diet ( ND ) on body weight and adiposity indices were conflicting .
This study targeted to perform a systematic review and meta- analysis of r and omized controlled clinical trials ( RCTs ) examined the effect of the ND on body weight and composition .