Dietary Strategies for Weight Loss and Reducing Low Grade Inflammation: Evaluating Mediterranean Diet versus Mediterranean Diet plus Food Intolerance Elimination Diet in Obese Patients

Background Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which believed to play a role in causing insulin resistance. Food intolerances (FI) are also one of the probable causes of low-grade inflammation and may contribute to the onset of obesity. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) modified according the FI test (MedDiet plus FI) versus only MedDiet on inflammatory markers, metabolic parameters and anthropometric data. Material and methods: The study consisted of 20 patients with BMI over 30. FI test was done in 10 patients. The FI group was given modified MedDiet according FI results while the control group was given only MedDiet. The body composition and metabolic parameters were measured in the beginning and 8 weeks. Results: In the MedDiet plus FI group, patients lost weight from 101.8 kg to 94.5 kg. The biochemical assessment showed a significant decrease in values of triglycerides, total-Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol; and LDL-cholesterol. The metabolic assessment showed a significant decrease in values of insulin and HOMA- IR 37.64% vs 47.47%, respectively; in the MedDiet plus FI group vs MedDiet group alone. A significant decrease in the average value of fibrinogen and CRP in both groups was seen. Conclusion: The result suggests that food intolerance elimination diet (FIED) gave positive changes on body composition and metabolic parameters in obese patients. Obese patients who cannot lose weight by low-calorie diet alone can do it with elimination diet according to the results of FI test.