Effect of Diet and Physical Activity on Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes (PREVIEW)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01777893 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : January 29, 2013
Last Update Posted : March 20, 2019
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Type-2 diabetes is one of the fastest growing chronic diseases worldwide. This trend is mainly driven by a global increase in the prevalence of obesity. The PREVIEW study has been initiated to find out the most effective lifestyle-components (diet and physical activity) in the prevention of Type-2 diabetes. The project consists of a randomized lifestyle-intervention with the more specific aim to determine the preventative impact of a high-protein and low-GI diet in combination with moderate or high intensity physical activity compared with a moderate-protein and moderate GI diet in combination with the same activity levels on the incidence of Type-2 diabetes in predisposed, pre-diabetic children, young and older adults.
The trial will be performed in 6 EU countries (Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Netherlands, UK) and Australia and New Zealand.
A total of 2,500 overweight or obese adult participants (25-70 y) as well as 150 children and adolescents aged 10-18 y) will be recruited. All adult participants are first treated by a low-calorie diet for 8 weeks, with an aim to reach ≥ 8% weight reduction. Children and adolescents are treated separately with a conventional weight-reduction diet, with-out a specific aim for absolute weight loss.
The adult participants are randomized into two different diet interventions and two exercise interventions for a total of 148 weeks. This period aims at preventing Type-2 diabetes by weight-maintenance (prevention of relapse in reduced body weight) and by independent metabolic effects of diet and physical activity.
The primary endpoint of the study is the incidence of Type-2 diabetes in the adults during 3 years (156 weeks) according to diet (high protein/low-GI versus moderate protein/moderate-GI, adjusted for physical activity), based on a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and/or HbA1c.
For children and adolescents:
Change in insulin resistance at 2 years after randomization to high protein versus moderate protein diet, measured by insulin resistance analyzed by the homeostatic model (HOMA-IR) as well as physiological improvement of health with respect to pre-diabetic characteristics.
Our hypothesis is that a high-protein, low-GI diet will be superior in preventing type-2 diabetes, compared with a moderate protein, moderate GI diet, and that high-intensity physical activity will be superior compared to moderate-intensity physical activity.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Pre-diabetes Obesity | Behavioral: High protein/ high intensity physical activity (HP-HI) Behavioral: High protein / moderate intensity physical activity (HP-MI) Behavioral: Moderate protein/ high intensity physical activity (MP-HI) Behavioral: Moderate protein/ moderate intensity physical activity (MP-MI) | Not Applicable |

Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 2500 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Prevention |
Official Title: | PREVention of Diabetes Through Lifestyle Intervention and Population Studies in Europe and Around the World |
Study Start Date : | June 2013 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | March 2018 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 2018 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: HP-HI
High protein/ high intensity physical activity
|
Behavioral: High protein/ high intensity physical activity (HP-HI)
Participants follow a high protein diet and a high intensity physical activity intervention |
Experimental: HP-MI
High protein/ moderate intensity physical activity
|
Behavioral: High protein / moderate intensity physical activity (HP-MI)
Participants follow a high protein diet and moderate intensity physical activity intervention |
Experimental: MP-HI
Moderate protein/ high intensity physical activity
|
Behavioral: Moderate protein/ high intensity physical activity (MP-HI)
Participants follow a moderate protein diet and a high intensity physical activity intervention |
Experimental: MP-MI
Moderate protein/ moderate intensity physical activity
|
Behavioral: Moderate protein/ moderate intensity physical activity (MP-MI)
Participants follow a moderate protein diet and moderate intensity physical activity intervention |
- Incidence of type 2 diabetes [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
For adults by OGTT
Incidence of type 2 diabetes, in high protein versus medium protein diet, measured during 3 years after baseline and based on WHO/IDF criteria:
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) > 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) or, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with FPG > 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) and/or 2 hour plasma glucose > 11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dl) or, Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) > 6.5% (48 mmol/mol), or Random plasma glucose > 11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dl) in the presence of classical diabetes symptoms.
For children and adolescents:
Change in insulin resistance at 2 years after randomization to high protein versus medium protein diet, measured by insulin resistance analysed by the homeostatic model (HOMA-IR).
- Incidence of type-2 diabetes [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
For children by HOMA-IR The effect of high intensity vs. moderate intensity physical activity on incidence of type 2 diabetes, based on WHO/IDF criteria (adjusted for diet).
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) > 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) or, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with FPG > 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl) and/or 2 hour plasma glucose > 11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dl) or, Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) > 6.5% (48 mmol/mol), or Random plasma glucose > 11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dl) in the presence of classical diabetes symptoms.
For children and adolescents:
Change in insulin resistance at 2 years after randomization to high intensity vs. moderate intensity physical activity, analyzed by the homeostatic model (HOMA-IR).
- Change in HbA1c [ Time Frame: 3 years ]A measure of average blood glucose levels
- Change in body weight (kg or percent) and waist 8cm), hip (cm) and thigh circumference (cm) [ Time Frame: 3 years ]Measures of body composition
- Change in body composition - fat mass and fat-free mass (kg, proportion of body weight) [ Time Frame: 3 years ]DXA, BodPod, or bio-impedance
- Proportion of subjects maintaining at least 0, 5 or 10% weight loss [ Time Frame: 3 years ]Relative to initial body weight
- Insulin sensitivity (e.g Matsuda Index based on the OGTT, glucose area under the curve (AUC) during OGTT, beta-cell disposition index) (OGTT only adults) [ Time Frame: 3 years ]Measures of insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance
- Risk factors for cardiovascular disease, with at least the following measures: blood pressure, heart rate, lipids (triglycerides, total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol), C-reactive protein, and liver enzymes [ Time Frame: 3 years ]Risk factors for CVD
- Changes in dietary intake (4-d weighed food records) [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- Changes in physical activity (accelerometers and questionnaires). [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- Changes in perceived quality of life and workability, habitual well-being, sleep and chronic stress, subjective appetite sensations, dietary restraint, moderators, mediators, behavioral and social environment. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- The effects of stature (height; proportion leg-length/height) in adults and changes in stature in children and adolescents, on the changes in relationship between reduction in body weight, body fat and insulin sensitivity [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- Safety parameters (blood samples). [ Time Frame: Screening and during 3 years ]
- Adverse events and concomitant medication. [ Time Frame: Screening and during 3 years ]Registration by questionnaires.
- Compliance by urin samples for nitrogen analyses. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- In a sub-group: Metabolomic profiling. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- In a sub-group: DNA, RNA [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- In a sub-group: Colon cancer risk markers [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- In a sub-group: Kidney safety markers, body fat and liver-fat content. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- In a sub-group: Body and liver-fat content. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- In a sub-group: Changes in brain responses and cortical thickness [ Time Frame: 2 years ]
- In a sub-group: Changes in 48-h energy expenditure in a respiration chamber setting [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- In a sub-group: Gut microbiome [ Time Frame: 3 years ]
- In a sub-group: Circulating amino acids [ Time Frame: 8 wks ]
- In a sub-group: Plasma mitochondrial peptides [ Time Frame: 8 wks ]
- In a sub-group: Insulin Growth factor 2 (IGF-II) and IGF-II receptor (IGF2R) [ Time Frame: 8 wks ]
- Direct and indirect costs. [ Time Frame: 3 years ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 10 Years to 70 Years (Child, Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
For adults:
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Age 25 - 70 years:
From mid 2013 - mid 2014, subjects aged 25-45 and 55-70 years were enrolled. From mid 2014, subjects aged 46-54 years were also enrolled.
- Overweight or obesity status BMI>25 kg/m2
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Pre-diabetes The criteria from WHO/IDF (International Diabetes Foundation) for assessing pre-diabetes will be used as the formal inclusion criteria (at screening), i.e. having:
Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG): Fasting venous plasma glucose concentration 5.6 - 6.9 mmol/l or Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT): Venous Plasma glucose concentration of 7.8 - 11.0 mmol/l at 2 h after oral administration of 75 g glucose (oral glucose tolerance test, OGTT), with fasting plasma glucose less than 7.0 mmol/l.
Due to potential between-lab variation (local assessments), HbA1c is not used as an inclusion criteria in the screening.
- Informed consent required
- Ethnic group - No restrictions
- Smoking - Smoking is allowed, provided subjects have not recently (within 1 month) changed habits. However, smoking status is monitored throughout the study and used as a confounding variable.
- Motivation - Motivation and willingness to be randomized to any of the groups and to do his/hers best to follow the given protocol
- Other - Able to participate at CID's during normal working hours.
For children and adolescents:
- Age 10-18 years
- Age-adjusted value corresponding to BMI>25 kg/m2 (Cole et al. 2000)
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Since the prevalence of pre-diabetes among children with overweight or obesity is low, it is not feasible to include exclusively pre-diabetic children (according to criteria of the IDF).
Therefore, insulin resistant over-weight/obese children will be included, defined as: HOMA-IR ≥ 2.0 for Tanner stage > 2. No HOMA criteria is used for Tanner stage 1 and 2.
- Informed consent required
- Ethnic group - No restrictions
- Smoking - Smoking is allowed, provided subjects have not recently (within 1 month) changed habits. However, smoking status is monitored throughout the study and used as a confounding variable.
- Motivation - Motivation and willingness to be randomized to any of the groups and to do his/hers best to follow the given protocol
- Other - Able to participate at CID's during normal school/working hours.
Exclusion Criteria:
Based on interview and/or questionnaire, individuals with the following problems will be excluded:
Medical conditions as known by the subjects:
- Diabetes mellitus (other than gestational diabetes mellitus);
- Significant cardiovascular disease including current angina; myocardial infarction or stroke within the past 6 months; heart failure; symptomatic peripheral vascular disease ;
- Systolic blood pressure above 160 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure above 100 mmHg whether on or off treatment for hypertension. If being treated, no change in drug treatment within last 3 months;
- Advanced chronic renal impairment;
- Significant liver disease e.g. cirrhosis (fatty liver disease allowed);
- Malignancy which is currently active or in remission for less than five years after last treatment (local basal and squamous cell skin cancer allowed);
- Active inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, chronic pancreatitis or other disorder potentially causing malabsorption;
- Previous bariatric surgery;
- Chronic respiratory, neurological, musculoskeletal or other disorders where, in the judgement of the investigator, participants would have unacceptable risk or difficulty in complying with the protocol (e.g. physical activity program);
- A recent surgical procedure until after full convalescence (investigators judgement);
- Transmissible blood-borne diseases e.g. hepatitis B, HIV;
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Psychiatric illness (e.g. major depression, bipolar disorder).
Medication:
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Use currently or within the previous 3 months of prescription medication that has the potential of affecting body weight or glucose metabolism such as glucocorticoids (but excluding inhaled and topical steroids; bronchodilators are allowed), psychoactive medication, epileptic medication, or weight loss medications (either prescription, over the counter or herbal). Low dose antidepressants are allowed if they, in the judgement of the investigator, do not affect weight or participation to the study protocol. Levothyroxine for treatment of hypothyroidism is allowed if the participant has been on a stable dose for at least 3 months.
Personal/Other:
- Engagement in competitive sports;
- Self-reported weight change of >5 % (increase or decrease) within 2 months prior to screening;
- Special diets (e.g. vegan, Atkins) within 2 months prior to study start. A lacto-vegetarian diet is allowed;
- Severe food intolerance expected to interfere with the study;
- Regularly drinking > 21 alcoholic units/week (men), or > 14 alcoholic units/week (women);
- Use of drugs of abuse within the previous 12 months;
- Blood donation or transfusion within the past 1 month before baseline or CID's;
- Self-reported eating disorders;
- Pregnancy or lactation, including plans to become pregnant within the next 36 months.
- No access to either phone or Internet (this is necessary when being contacted by the instructor's during the maintenance phase);
- Adequate understanding of national language;
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Psychological or behavioral problems which, in the judgement of the investigator, would lead to difficulty in complying with the protocol.
Laboratory screening:
If all of the above criteria are satisfied, the participant is eligible for a glucose tolerance test (blood at 0 and 120 mins), and blood glucose concentrations are analyzed immediately (Haemocue). In addition full blood count, urea, and electrolytes may be analyzed as a further safety evaluation. Having normal (i.e. not prediabetic) glucose concentrations at 0 and 2h of OGTT at any stage of the study is not an exclusion criterion.
ONLY IF the glucose tolerance test meets the entry criteria for the study, the remaining samples are sent to the local laboratory for a safety check, with the following exclusion criteria:
- Hemoglobin concentration below local laboratory reference values (i.e. anemia).
- Creatinine >1.5 times Upper Limit of Normal (local laboratory reference values).
- Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and/or Aspartate Transaminase (AST) >3 times the Upper Limit of Normal (local laboratory reference values) Or any other significant abnormality on these tests which in the investigators opinion may be clinically significant and require further assessment
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Electrocardiography (ECG). Any abnormality which in the opinion of the investigator might indicate undiagnosed cardiac disease requiring further assessment (e.g. significant conduction disorder, arrhythmia, pathological Q waves). This is done in adults 55-70 years of age.
After LCD phase (in adults):
- Failure to reach at least 8% weight reduction during the LCD phase. This leads to exclusion from the intervention.
Note:
- The listed inclusion and exclusion criteria are applied at screening;
- Having normal (i.e. not pre-diabetic) glucose concentrations at 0 and 2 h of OGTT at any stage of the study after screening is not an exclusion criterion

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01777893
Australia | |
University of Sydney | |
Sydney, Australia, NSW 2006 | |
Bulgaria | |
Medical University Sofia | |
Sofia, Bulgaria, 1403 | |
Denmark | |
University of Copenhagen | |
Frederiksberg, Denmark, 1958 | |
Finland | |
University of Helsinki | |
Helsinki, Finland, 00014 | |
Netherlands | |
University of Maastricht | |
Maastricht, Netherlands, 6200 | |
New Zealand | |
University of Auckland | |
Auckland, New Zealand, 1024 | |
Spain | |
University of Navarra | |
Pamplona, Spain, 31008 | |
United Kingdom | |
University of Nottingham Medical School | |
Nottingham, United Kingdom, NG7 2UH | |
Swansea University | |
Swansea, United Kingdom, SA1 8EN |
Principal Investigator: | Thomas M Larsen, Ass. Prof. | University of Copenhagen | |
Principal Investigator: | Mikael Fogelholm, Professor | University of Helsinki | |
Principal Investigator: | Margriet Westerterp-Plantenga, Professor | Maastricht University | |
Principal Investigator: | Ian Macdonald, Professor | University of Nottingham Medical School | |
Principal Investigator: | J. Alfredo Martinez, Professor | University of Navarra | |
Principal Investigator: | Svetoslav Handjiev, Professor | Medical University Sofia | |
Principal Investigator: | Jennie Brand-Miller, Professor | University of Sydney | |
Principal Investigator: | Sally D. Poppitt, Professor | University of Auckland, New Zealand | |
Principal Investigator: | Gareth Stratton, Professor | Swansea University |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Anne Birgitte Raben, Professor, University of Copenhagen |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01777893 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
B303 312057 ( Other Grant/Funding Number: European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) ) |
First Posted: | January 29, 2013 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 20, 2019 |
Last Verified: | March 2019 |
Type-2 diabetes mellitus Obesity High protein diet Low GI Physical activity |
Diabetes Mellitus Prediabetic State Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Endocrine System Diseases |