Use of low-fat foods by people with diabetes decreases fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol intakes

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of providing free access to several fat-modified foods on dietary energy and macronutrient intake in people with and without diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: Five low-fat or no-fat products or their regular-fat counterparts were provided to volunteers to take home and use for 3 days (low-fat condition or regular-fat condition) in a repeated-measures crossover design. People with diabetes were case matched to people without diabetes. Food intakes were determined through a weighed food diary and by weighing the food provided before consumption and the uneaten portions after consumption. SUBJECTS: Thirty men and women, aged 20 to 60 years, with (n = 15) and without (n = 15) diabetes participated. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to determine the effects of diabetes and use of fat-modified foods on nutrient and energy intake. RESULTS: People with diabetes responded the same way to fat-modified foods as people without diabetes. There was a significant reduction in the grams of fat consumed during the low-fat condition compared with the regular-fat condition (average decrease = 8 g, P < .05). Energy intake from experimental foods was significantly lower during the low-fat condition (271 +/- 181 kcal) compared with the regular-fat condition (353 +/- 256 kcal), but total energy intake was not different. Percentage of energy from fat was significantly decreased in the low-fat condition (27 +/- 7) compared with the regular-fat condition (34 +/- 9; P < .05). There was a corresponding increase in the percentage of energy from carbohydrates in the low-fat condition compared with the regular-fat condition, but no significant increase in grams of carbohydrate consumed. Cholesterol and saturated fat intakes were significantly less in the low-fat condition than in the regular-fat condition. CONCLUSION: Consumption of fat-modified foods by individuals with diabetes may help decrease intake of fat, cholesterol, and saturated fat.