Modulation of metabolic parameters among obese diabetic individuals through a gluten-free diet.

BACKGROUND: Obesity and type II diabetes mellitus are major public health concerns often associated with liver and metabolic complications. METHODOLOGY: The study received ethical approval from the Institute Research Ethics Board (IREB), University of Lahore (UOL/IREB/25/09/0008). This study aimed to compare the effects of a conventional diet and a gluten-free diet on metabolic health in obese individuals with diabetes over 12 weeks. A total of 108 participants, aged 30–55, were randomly assigned to groups. Key health indicators, including anthropometric measurements (BMI and waist circumference), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)), and HOMA-IR, were evaluated before and after a 12-wk intervention. RESULTS: A Gluten-free diet group experienced significantly greater reductions in BMI (p < 0.001) and marked improvements in blood pressure, glucose levels, insulin resistance, lipid profile, and liver enzymes (p < 0.001), compared to the modest improvements seen in the conventional diet group. CONCLUSION: Findings suggested that a gluten-free diet may serve as an effective strategy for metabolic management in obese diabetic patients. Further research is warranted to assess the long-term effect. This trial is registered on 8th Aug, 2025 at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07127055 .