Dietary Patterns
Welcome to the Dietary Patterns Project
In 2020, the Evidence Analysis Center conducted a scoping review of systematic reviews to identify and characterize studies examining diet or fasting (intermittent energy restriction) interventions among adults who are healthy or who may have chronic disease. The results of this scoping review served as the foundation for the following systematic reviews.
Carbohydrate Restricted Dietary Approaches and Health Outcomes (2023)
The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the effect of carbohydrate restriction, focusing on three subtopics – adults with overweight or obesity and no other established disease; adults with overweight or obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (formerly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease); and adults with any weight status and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The expert panel reviewed research on anthropometric, glycemic, blood pressure, lipid outcomes and other outcomes.
Key findings:
Intake of a low- or moderate-carbohydrate diet compared to a higher carbohydrate intake:
- Likely reduces body weight, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and triglycerides in adults with overweight or obesity and no other established disease. (Moderate certainty)
- May have no effect on liver fat, AST and ALT enzymes, body weight and composition (BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, etc.), fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, blood pressure, total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol and c-reactive protein in adults with overweight or obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease. (Low certainty)
- Likely results in a small reduction in body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and likely reduces total cholesterol and triglycerides in adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. (Moderate certainty)
Mediterranean Diet and Cardiovascular Risk Factors (2021)
Using findings from the scoping review search, the EAC team conducted an umbrella review on the Mediterranean diet and CVD. The review included sub-analysis for the following populations: hypertension, diabetes (type 2), CVD, overweight/obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. All the systematic reviews that met the inclusion criteria and evaluated a Mediterranean diet pattern (as defined by the authors) were included in the umbrella review. Definitions provided by the systematic review authors can be found in the Study Characteristics table available within each evidence summary. Common criteria identified from the systematic review of Mediterranean diet definitions included high fruit, vegetable, and whole grain intake; low to moderate meat intake; and inclusion of legumes and olive oil.
Key findings:
- Mediterranean diet intake may decrease blood pressure, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol in the general population.
- Mediterranean diet intake may reduce weight, LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure in individuals with overweight or obesity.
- Mediterranean diet intake may improve dyslipidemia and glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Use the links left navigation bar to see the results of the both review. Expand the section below titled Project Team and Disclosures for a listing of individuals who contributed to the development of each review, disclosures and project funding information.
3/28/2024
- Mediterranean Diet Umbrella Review Project Team and Disclosures (2021)
Project Team
- Lisa Moloney, MS, RDN, Project Manager
Nutrition Researcher, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL
- Mary Rozga, PhD, RDN
Nutrition Researcher, Academy of Nutrition and Dieetics, Chicago, IL
- Deepa Handu, PhD, RDN, Methodologist
Senior Scientist, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL
Financial Contributors
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest
- No member of the project team disclosed potential conflicts of interest.
- Carbohydrate Restricted Dietary Approaches and Health Outcomes Systematic Review Project Team and Disclosures (2021-2023)
The following individuals contributed their valuable time and expertise to this project:
Expert Panel Workgroup Members
- Kerri Lyynn Knippen, PhD, RDN, LD, BC-ADM, Chair
Associate Professor, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA
- Amy Goss, PhD, RDN
Assistant Professor, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Haylee M. Hannah, MS, RDN, LD, CSOWM
Senior Registered Dietitian and Accreditations Coordinator, West Chester, OH, USA
- Matthew J. Landry, PhD, RDN, DipACLM, FAND, FAHA
Assistant Professor, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
- Justin A. Robinson, MA, RD, CSSD, CSCS, TSAC-F
Adjunct Faculty, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Dana M. Scheunemann, PhD, MS, RD, CD
Assistant Professor, Mount Mary University, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Project Leaders
- Tami Piemonte, MS, RDN, Project Manager
Independent Contractor, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
- Ellen K. Bowser, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, RN, Lead Analyst
Co-Director Pediatric Pulmonary Center Leadership Training Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Mary Rozga, PhD, RDN, Researcher
Nutrition Researcher Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL USA
- Deepa Handu, PhD, RDN, Methodologist
Senior Scientist, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA
- Michelle Fiander, Medical Librarian
Fiander Consulting, Halifax, NS, Canada
Evidence Analysts
- Lisa Davis, MS, RD
Retired, Middleton, WI, USA
- Amy A. Huang, MPH, RDN
Lonza Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
- Telma V. Moreira, MS, RD-AP, CSO, CNSC
Senior Clinical Dietitian, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Megan E. Piotrowski, MS, BSN, RN, CHES
Clinical Nursing Instructor & Adjunct Faculty, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center & Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Maja Redzic, MS, RD
Research Associate, Huron Consulting Group, Chicago, IL, USA
- Jessica Schueler, MS, RDN
Clinical Dietitian, St Charles Health System, Bend, OR, USA
- Helen D. Solomon, MBA, RD
Retired, Wildwood, MO, USA
- Jinyu Xu, PhD, MPH, RD
Research Scientist, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
Financial Contributors
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
The views or interests of the funding bodies did not influence the development of the systematic review.
Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest: In the interest of full disclosure, the Academy has adopted the policy of revealing relationships workgroup members have with companies that sell products or services that are relevant to this topic. Workgroup members are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest by completing the Academy Conflict of Interest Form. It should not be assumed that these financial interests will have an adverse impact on the content, but they are noted here to fully inform readers.
- None of the workgroup members listed above disclosed potential conflicts.
- Scoping Review Project Team and Disclosures (2020)
The following individuals contributed their valuable time and expertise to the scoping review:
Project Team
- Tami A. Piemonte, MS, RD, Project Manager
Independent Contractor, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
- Feon Cheng, PhD, MPH, RDN, Lead Analyst
Nutrition Researcher, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA
- Deepa Handu, PhD, RDN, Methodologist
Senior Scientist, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Chicago, IL, USA
- Michelle Fiander, MA, MLIS, Medical Librarian
Fiander Consulting, Halifax, NS, Canada
Content Advisors
- Amy M. Gross, PhD, RD
Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition Services, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Lamia Nasrallah, MPH, RD, LDN
Clinical Dietitian, University of North Carolina Hospitals Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Financial Contributors
- Commission on Dietetic Registration
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
The views or interests of the funding bodies did not influence the development of this scoping review.
Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest
In the interest of full disclosure, the Academy has adopted the policy of revealing relationships workgroup members and content advisors have with companies that sell products or services that are relevant to this topic. Workgroup members and content advisors are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest by completing the Academy Conflict of Interest Form. It should not be assumed that these financial interests will have an adverse impact on the content, but they are noted here to fully inform readers:
- None of the content advisors listed above disclosed potential conflicts of interest.
