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Please Note: The technology listed below is not available to the public at this time. This technology is in the early stage of research and requires further development before it is ready for the marketplace. The VA is currently in the process of identifying potential companies who may be interested in licensing and/or further developing the technology through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA). Through cooperative research initiatives such as these, it is our hope and goal that commercial products will be fully developed and made available to benefit veterans and others.
VA TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITY BRIEF
Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes with a LoBAG (Low Biologically Available Glucose) Diet
OPPORTUNITY
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking a commercial partner to further develop and commercialize a low biologically available glucose (LoBAG) diet plan.
TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION:
The inventors have developed a low-carbohydrate diet plan to manage blood glucose levels in people who have type 2 diabetes and are still secreting insulin. In a small, controlled clinical trial in which the carbohydrate:protein:fat ratios of the LoBAG diet were 20:30:50, and the control diet representing the "typical" American diet had ratios of 55:15:30, the LoBAG diet demonstrated significant moderation of blood glucose. Serum glucose concentrations dropped from 198 mg/dL to 126 mg/dL (the range for normal, healthy adults is 70-150 mg/dL) and the percentage of glycohemoglobin decreased from 9.8% ± 0.5% to 5.9% ± 0.5%. Furthermore, plasma and urinary beta-hydroxybutyrate levels were maintained, indicating that the LoBAG diet is non-ketogenic. (This is in contrast to other low-carbohydrate diets, like the Atkins Diet, that deliberately induce ketosis to treat obesity.) The LoBAG diet is nutritionally adequate and maintains normal kidney function and plasma lipid profiles.
Despite progress in the development of easier-to-use home blood glucose monitoring devices and increased public awareness of the importance of nutritionally balance diets, rates of diabetes in the U.S. are increasing, with a forecast prevalence of 49 million people in 2011, compared to 39 million people in 2005. As with many "at home" treatments, effectiveness is hindered by limited patient compliance. Most diet plans for diabetics are dependent on weight loss and regular dosing with pharmacological agents, and thus require concentrated effort from the patients to maintain treatment.
An advantage of the present invention is that it functions through regulation of carbohydrate:protein:fat intake ratios but matches the patients' average caloric intake, and is thus expected to be an easy diet for diabetics to follow. It is envisioned by the inventors that the LoBAG diet can be commercialized as meal plan of pre-packaged foods.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
Most of the currently available diets for diabetics do not appear to have the potential to obviate the need for weight loss and pharmaceutical intervention. The diet plan of the present invention has been demonstrated to be functional without the necessity for weight loss. Further, the need for pharmacological intervention may be minimized with the diet plan.
IP STATUS
US patent application filed on February 21, 2007 (11/660,682)
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Saleem Sheredos
Program Manager
Technology Transfer Program
Veterans Affairs
Office of Research & Development (12TT)
5th Floor
103 South Gay Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
202-380-5080
Fax 410.962.2141
e-mail: saleem.sheredos@va.gov
Last Updated - July 2, 2007