Scientists from Umeå University in Sweden have found that combining a Paleolithic (Paleo) diet with exercise training may improve heart health in overweight people with type 2 diabetes.
People with type 2 diabetes often experience an accumulation of triglycerides and changes in the structure of the left ventricle of the heart.
Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) found in the blood. High triglyceride levels can contribute to hardening or thickening of artery walls (arteriosclerosis), increasing the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart disease.
Problems affecting the left ventricle—the heart’s main pumping chamber—are strong predictors of poor cardiovascular outcomes.
Together, these conditions can significantly raise the risk of developing heart disease.
While several studies have examined the separate effects of diet and exercise on heart function, few have explored how a combined approach influences heart structure and performance.
In the current study, researchers investigated the effects of a Paleolithic diet, with and without additional exercise training, on heart fat, structure, and function.
They studied 22 overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Participants were assigned to either a Paleolithic diet with standard-care exercise recommendations or a Paleolithic diet combined with supervised exercise training for three hours per week over 12 weeks.
A Paleo diet typically includes lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds—foods that could be obtained through hunting and gathering in ancient times.
It limits foods that became common after the advent of agriculture about 10,000 years ago, including dairy products, legumes, and grains.
The researchers found that both groups experienced significant improvements in metabolic health.
However, the group following the Paleo diet plus exercise training showed substantial reductions in triglyceride levels and beneficial changes in left ventricular structure. These effects were not observed in the diet-only group.
The team concluded that combining exercise training with a Paleolithic diet may reduce triglyceride levels and improve heart structure in overweight or obese individuals with type 2 diabetes.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association and conducted by Julia Otten and colleagues.
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