Mediterranean Diet vs DASH and MIND in T2DM

The Effect of the Mediterranean Diet on Metabolic Parameters in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Comparative Evaluation With the DASH and MIND Diets

In our study, we aimed to comparatively evaluate the relative effects of the Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND diets on metabolic parameters in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The study was conducted on 90 individuals diagnosed with T2DM according to the American Diabetes Association diagnostic criteria (fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL, 2-hour blood glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/mol)). Volunteers who participated in the study completed a questionnaire form that included sociodemographic characteristics. In addition, participants' anthropometric measurements (body weight (BW), height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), body mass index (BMI)), biochemical parameters (fasting blood glucose, hbA1c (%), LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol), Visceral Adiposity Index (VAİ), body composition analyses (Fat Mass (FM (%), Fat-Free Mass (FFM) (kg), Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) (kcal), Visceral Fat Area (VFA) (%)), nutritional status (food consumption frequency, food consumption record, Mediterranean Diet Scale, DASH diet adherence score, and MIND diet adherence score) were evaluated.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: No intervention (observational study)

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 90

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Bolu, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal University, Faculty of Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study included patients who presented to the Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinic at BAİBÜ İzzet Baysal Education and Research Hospital and diagnosed with T2DM according to the American Diabetes Association diagnostic criteria (fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL, 2-hour blood glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), or HbA1c ≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/mol)).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals over 19 years of age
• Individuals who are literate
• Individuals diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who have had an acute infection or inflammatory disease within the past month
• Individuals with chronic infectious or inflammatory diseases
• Individuals with cancer

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Individuals with Type 2 diabetes; This cohort includes adult participants diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. No control group is included.	Other: No intervention (observational study); No intervention (observational study)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Questionnaire Form	Sociodemographic characteristics of the individuals (age, gender, smoking and alcohol use) were questioned.	9 months
Body Weight (BW)	BW was measured using a calibrated digital scale placed on a flat, tiled surface. The scale was sensitive to 100 grams.	9 months
Height	Height was measured using a stadiometer with the participant's head positioned in the Frankfort plane and feet placed together.	9 months
Waist Circumference (WC)	WC was measured at the midpoint between the lowest rib and the iliac crest (cristal point) using a flexible measuring tape.	9 months
Hip Circumference (HC)	HC was measured at the widest point of the hips using a flexible measuring tape.	9 months
Body Mass Index (BMI)	BMI was calculated by dividing body weight (in kilograms) by the square of height (in meters): BMI = weight (kg) / height² (m²).	9 months
Fasting Blood Glucose	Fasting blood glucose was measured using standard laboratory techniques during routine outpatient visits.	9 months
Triglycerides	Triglyceride levels were measured via fasting blood samples analyzed in the outpatient clinic laboratory.	9 months
LDL-Cholesterol	LDL-cholesterol was measured from fasting serum samples using standard enzymatic colorimetric methods.	9 months
Total Cholesterol	Total cholesterol was measured using routine biochemical analysis in a certified laboratory.	9 months
HbA1c (%)	Fasting blood glucose was measured using standard laboratory techniques during routine outpatient visits.	9 months
Abdominal obesity index (VAI)	Abdominal obesity index (VAI): VAI has been used to assess abdominal obesity. VAI (Men) = [Waist circumference (cm) / (36.58 + (1.88 × BMI)] × (triglycerides / 1.03) × (1.31 / HDL-C) , VAI (Women) = [Waist circumference (cm) / (36.58 + (1.88 × BMI)] × (triglycerides / 0.81) × (1.52 / HDL-C)	9 months
Body Fat Mass (FM) (%)	Obtained using a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device (Tanita Innerscan BC 401, Japan).	9 months
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) (kcal)	Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device (Tanita Innerscan BC 401, Japan) was used.	9 months
Fat-Free Mass (FFM) (kg)	bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device (Tanita Innerscan BC 401, Japan).	9 months
Visceral Fat Area (VFA) (%)	Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) device (Tanita Innerscan BC 401, Japan).	9 months
Food consumption frequency	Participants were asked about the foods they consumed in the past month from seven groups, including five basic food groups (meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, bread and grains, vegetables and fruits, sugars and fats), beverages, and fast food. Participants were asked how often and in what quantities they consumed these foods using eight options: "every meal," "every day," "5-6 days a week," "3-4 days a week," "1-2 days a week," "once every 15 days," "once a month," and "never." In evaluating food consumption records, responses regarding food consumption frequency were calculated using food consumption frequency. The amounts of food and beverages consumed were multiplied by "3" for "every meal," '1' for "every day," "0.7855" for "5-6 times a week," "0.498" for "3-4 times a week," "0.2145" for "1-2 times a week," "0.067" for "once every 15 days," and "0.033" for "once a month" to obtain the daily average amounts.	9 months
Food consumption record	A single-day food consumption record was obtained using the 24-hour recall method to determine participants' food consumption patterns. The Food and Nutrition Photo Catalog was used to estimate portions to ensure that the amounts of food consumed were assessed accurately and reliably. Based on these records, daily energy and nutrient intakes were calculated using the Nutrition Information System (BEBİS) software, based on the type and amount of food consumed by individuals in the last 24 hours.	9 months
DASH diet compliance	Individuals' DASH diet compliance scores were calculated based on their food consumption frequency after their energy requirements were calculated. The highest possible score on the DASH diet compliance scale is 8.0. A score of 4.5 or above is considered 'high compliance', while a score below 4.5 is considered 'low compliance'.	9 months
Mediterranean diet adherence scale	The Mediterranean Diet Scale was used to determine individuals' adherence to the Mediterranean diet. This scale consists of a total of 14 questions, 2 of which relate to food consumption habits and 12 of which relate to food consumption frequency. Each question is scored as either 0 or 1 point. The scale's scoring range is set at 0-14 points.	9 months
MIND diet compliance score	It includes a total of 15 different food groups, consisting of ten groups that protect brain health and five groups that harm brain health. Individuals' food consumption records and frequency of food consumption were examined, and the consumption amounts of foods belonging to these 15 groups were divided into portions and evaluated according to the scoring system. This scale is scored from 0 to 15, and there is no cutoff point for determining compliance with the MIND diet.	9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Abant Izzet Baysal University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): January 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): September 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): December 30, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 30, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 16, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: MIND diet; Mediterranean diet; DASH diet
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Metabolic Diseases; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Diabetes Mellitus; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Investigative Techniques; Methods; Observation
• Other Study ID Numbers: AIBU-BD-NKÖ-03

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No