Effects of Mediterranean diet on sexual function in people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: The MEDITA trial

Aims: To assess the long-term effect of Mediterranean diet, as compared with low-fat diet, on sexual function in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, with a total follow-up of 8.1 years, 215 men and women with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were assigned to Mediterranean diet (n = 108) or a low-fat diet (n = 107). The primary outcome measures were changes of erectile function (IIEF) in diabetic men and of female sexual function (FSFI) in diabetic women. Results: There was no difference in baseline sexual function in men (n = 54 vs 52) or women (n = 54 vs 55) randomized to Mediterranean diet or low-fat diet, respectively (P = 0.287, P = 0.815). Over the entire follow-up, the changes of the primary outcomes were significantly lower in the Mediterranean diet group compared with the low-fat group: IIEF and FSFI showed a significantly lesser decrease (1.22 and 1.18, respectively, P = 0.024 and 0.019) with the Mediterranean diet Baseline C-reactive protein levels predicted erectile dysfunction in men but not female sexual dysfunction in women. Conclusions: Among persons with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, a Mediterranean diet reduced the deterioration of sexual function over time in both sexes. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.