Dietary Cod Protein May Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
February 14th, 2008
SmartWeight patients will be pleased to learn that eating cod may improve insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant individuals and thus could contribute to prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. .
In a small clinical trial of only 19 insulin-resistant individuals, published in the November 2007 issue of Diabetes Care, insulin sensitivity improved by 20% when on the cod diet in comparison to a similar diet containing lean beef, pork, veal, eggs, milk, and milk products where insulin sensitivity was reduced by 3%. However, it is possible that the increase in insulin-sensitivity on the cod diet may have been due to the positive effects of omega-3 fatty acids (which are known to be abundant in fatty marine fish) on insulin sensitivity.
This study is based on only 19 patients and therefore a much larger randomised controlled trial would need to be done to provide stronger evidence. White fish, such as cod, is a fantastic source of low fat protein and therefore a very beneficial component of a healthy diet. It is, however, an endangered species and making use of other species such as Pollack, mullet and whiting is preferable.
