Table 1. Nutrition Therapy Recommendations (continued)
Topic Recommendation
Omega-3
fatty acids
Evidence does not support recommending omega-3 (EPA and DHA)
supplements for people with diabetes for the prevention or treatment of
cardiovascular events. (A)
As recommended for the general public, an increase in foods containing
long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) (from fatty fish) and
omega-3 linolenic acid (ALA) is recommended for individuals with
diabetes because of their beneficial effects on lipoproteins, prevention
of heart disease, and associations with positive health outcomes in
observational studies. (B)
e recommendation for the general public to eat fish (particularly fatty
fish) at least two times (two servings) per week is also appropriate for
people with diabetes. (B)
Saturated
fat, dietary
cholesterol, and
trans fat
e amount of dietary saturated fat, cholesterol, and trans fat
recommended for people with diabetes is the same as that recommended
for the general population. (C)
Plant stanols and
sterols
Individuals with diabetes and dyslipidemia may be able to modestly
reduce total and LDL cholesterol by consuming 1.6-3 g/day of plant
stanols or sterols typically found in enriched foods. (C)
Micronutrients
and herbal
supplements
ere is no clear evidence of benefit from vitamin or mineral
supplementation in people with diabetes who do not have underlying
deficiencies. (C)
• Routine supplementation with antioxidants, such as vitamins E and
C and carotene, is not advised because of lack of evidence of efficacy
and concern related to long-term safety. (A)
• There is insufficient evidence to support the routine use of
micronutrients such as chromium, magnesium, and vitamin D to
improve glycemic control in people with diabetes. (C)
• There is insufficient evidence to support the use of cinnamon or
other herbs/supplements for the treatment of diabetes. (C)
It is recommended that individualized meal planning include
optimization of food choices to meet recommended dietary allowance/
dietary reference intake for all micronutrients. (E)
