High levels of von Willebrand Factor implicated in diabetes complications - high fat diets lower the levels of von Willebrand Factor

This study was published in Metabolism 1994 Nov;43(11):1406-9

Study title and author:
Decrease in von Willebrand factor levels after a high-monounsaturated-fat diet in non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects.

Rasmussen O, Thomsen C, Ingerslev J, Hermansen K.
Medical Department of M (Diabetes & Endocrinology), Aarhus Kommunehospital, Denmark.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7526126

High levels of von Willebrand factor (a protein used in blood clotting) have been reported in diabetics with cardiovascular complications, suggesting a role for this protein in the development of cardiovascular complications in type two diabetics.

This study investigated the effects of a low fat, high carbohydrate diet and a high fat diet on the blood levels of von Willebrand factor. 15 patients with type two diabetes received either diet for three weeks and their levels of von Willebrand factor was measured.

The diets were:
(i) 50% carbohydrate, 20% protein, 30% fat (low fat, high carbohydrate diet).
(ii) 30% carbohydrate, 20% protein, 50% fat (high fat diet).

The study found:
(a) The levels of von Willebrand factor decreased by 12.5% on the high fat diet.
(b) The levels of von Willebrand factor increased by 5.7% on the low fat, high carbohydrate diet.

This study shows how a high fat diet decreases the levels of von Willebrand Factor, and therefore decreases the risk of complications from diabetes.

Links to other studies:
A high fat/low carbohydrate diet reduces high blood sugar levels
High fat diets reduce dangerous C-reactive protein levels by 52.6%
Professor says that low-carbohydrate, high-fat diets are the preferred method for treating type 2 diabetes