Resumen de Investigación
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet reduces FGF21 in type 2 diabetes

Última actualización 2 de septiembre de 2026

Key finding

Plasma levels of FGF21 were reduced by 54% in the isocaloric study (P < .05)

This study investigated the effects of a carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet on FGF21 and GDF15 levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. It found significant reductions in FGF21 levels with the diet.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Short-Term (≤3 mo)

Risk of bias

Some Concerns

Guarda investigacion, organiza estudios y vuelve a encontrar evidencia importante rapidamente.

Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

This study investigated the effects of a carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet on FGF21 and GDF15 levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. It found significant reductions in FGF21 levels with the diet.

Clinical relevance

Understanding the impact of dietary interventions on metabolic markers like FGF21 and GDF15 is crucial for managing type 2 diabetes. This study suggests that a carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet may offer a beneficial approach for improving metabolic health in diabetic patients.

Keep in mind

The study's sample size and population characteristics may limit generalizability. The effects of dietary adherence were not assessed, which could influence outcomes. The study did not explore long-term effects of the dietary interventions.

Published in

Referencia de la Revista

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Michael MR, Mads NT, Mads JS, et al. The effect of carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet on FGF21 and GDF15 in type 2 diabetes. Journal of the Endocrine Society. 2024;8(4):bvae008. doi:10.1210/jendso/bvae008

Efectos Principales

FGF21 levels decreased by 54% in the isocaloric study (P < .05) for the carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet.

FGF21 levels decreased by 18% in the hypocaloric study (P < .05) for the carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet.

GDF15 levels increased by 18% (P < .05) in those on the carbohydrate-reduced high-protein diet who were also treated with metformin.

No significant changes in FGF21 or GDF15 levels were observed with the conventional diabetes diet.

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Conventional diabetes diet, Low-carbohydrate diet and Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels, Growth differentiation factor 15.

Primary intervention

Conventional diabetes diet

Primary outcomes

  • Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels
  • Growth differentiation factor 15

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

4
Evidence pairs
4
Relationships
1
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.

Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 59

1

Related topics

4

Evidence pairs

94

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 4 evidence relationships
  • Includes primary outcome data
  • Linked to 1 direct semantic evidence topic

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Agrega evidencia relacionada a tu Evidence Tracker

Guarda estudios y paginas de evidencia, organiza tu Evidence Tracker y manten en un solo lugar la investigacion que te importa.

Evidencia principal

Relación de evidencia

Low-Carbohydrate Diet Education and Inflammatory Markers

Evidencia relacionada

Tema de evidencia

Inflammatory and Vascular Markers

Guardar evidencia

Intervención

Low-Carbohydrate Diet Education

Guardar evidencia

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels

Conventional diabetes diet → Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels

Conventional diabetes diet → Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Growth differentiation factor 15

Conventional diabetes diet → Growth differentiation factor 15

Conventional diabetes diet → Growth differentiation factor 15

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels

Low-carbohydrate diet → Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels

Low-carbohydrate diet → Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 2 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

Growth differentiation factor 15

Low-carbohydrate diet → Growth differentiation factor 15

Low-carbohydrate diet → Growth differentiation factor 15

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
25
Negative
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

evidence suggest

La Evidencia Sugiere

  • FGF21 levels significantly decreased by 54% with the carbohydrate-reduced diet.
  • GDF15 levels increased by 18% in metformin-treated individuals on the carbohydrate-reduced diet.
  • No changes in FGF21 or GDF15 were found with the conventional diabetes diet.
who this applies

A quién se aplica

  • Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
  • Individuals seeking dietary interventions to manage diabetes.
keep in mind

Tener en Cuenta

  • Results may not apply to populations outside the study's demographic.
  • The study focused on short-term effects; long-term implications are unknown.
  • Dietary adherence was not monitored, which could affect the validity of the findings.
between the lines

Entre Líneas

  • The study's sample size and population characteristics may limit generalizability.
  • The effects of dietary adherence were not assessed, which could influence outcomes.
  • The study did not explore long-term effects of the dietary interventions.

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on Low-Carbohydrate Diet Education and Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels, Conventional diabetes diet and Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels.

Relaciones de evidencia relacionadas

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Explora más en Evidence Explorer

Jump to pre-filtered views in Evidence Explorer.

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does Low-Carbohydrate Diet Education improve inflammatory markers?

Strong Evidence

Low-Carbohydrate Diet Education may improve inflammatory markers.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are generally consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Growth differentiation factor 15

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | moderate negative | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 4 supporting studies with generally consistent results and a positive effect signal.

4 supporting studies

Does Low-carbohydrate diet improve circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) levels?

Moderate Evidence

Low-carbohydrate diet appears to improve circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) levels.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels

    EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
1 supporting study

Does Conventional diabetes diet improve circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) levels?

Emerging Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Conventional diabetes diet for circulating fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) levels.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
1 supporting study

Does Conventional diabetes diet improve growth differentiation factor 15?

Emerging Evidence

Current evidence does not show a clear benefit of Conventional diabetes diet for growth differentiation factor 15.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Growth differentiation factor 15

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

  • Only one supporting study is available.
1 supporting study
Learn how Evidence Intelligence™ works

Next steps

Continue your research

Choose a next path through related evidence topics, Evidence Explorer views, and research summaries.

Sin anuncios. Sin rastreo.

Centrada en la evidencia, no en la publicidad.

Segura y privada

Tus datos siempre están protegidos.

Siempre al día

Se agregan nuevos estudios todos los días.