Top in endocrinology: Benefits of plant-based diets; safety of GLP-1s

Researchers found that middle-aged adults who adhered closest to a healthy plant-based diet had a reduced risk for developing diabetes.

“Our findings support recommendations to prioritize plant foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, coffee and tea while moderating intakes of animal-source foods, especially red meat,” Valerie Sullivan, PhD, MHS, RDN, assistant scientist in the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, told Healio.

Sullivan noted that because the dietary intake of participants documented in the study was assessed in the late 1980s and mid-1990s, “future research is needed to examine the composition of modern plant-based diets and their impact on diabetes risk.”

It was the top story in endocrinology last week.

In another top story, Healio spoke with experts about the origin of public reports of alopecia and suicidal ideation associated with GLP-1 receptor agonists. Their consensus was that the drugs remain safe to use and that their benefits outweigh the risks for adverse events.

Read these and more top stories in endocrinology below:

Eating more plant-based foods may lower diabetes risk

Middle-aged adults who eat more plant-based foods and fewer animal-based products are less likely to develop incident diabetes, according to study findings published in Diabetes Care. Read more.

Greater access to obesity drugs puts spotlight on safety

GLP-1 receptor agonists come with known adverse events — some common and some rare — but recent reports by the public of alopecia and suicidal ideation have the FDA investigating. Read more.

Increased mortality risk for adults who undergo total thyroidectomy for cancer

Adults who develop hypoparathyroidism after a total thyroidectomy have an increased risk for all-cause mortality compared with the general population, but only if the indication for their surgery was cancer, according to study data. Read more.

Future obesity treatment may see bariatric surgery combined with medication

Bariatric surgery will continue to be a therapeutic option for obesity and early diabetes in the future and may be used in combination with newer medications, according to a speaker. Read more.

Use both HbA1c, CGM metrics for optimal diabetes management

Providers should use both HbA1c values and continuous glucose monitoring data to manage diabetes and prevent complications, though HbA1c should remain the standard for diagnosing diabetes, according to two speakers. Read more.