The REmission of Diabetes Using a PlAnt-based Weight Loss InteRvention (REPAIR) Trial

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a plant-based intensive lifestyle intervention can achieve remission of diabetes. It will also learn if a plant-based intensive lifestyle intervention can achieve weight loss ≥15% of initial body weight.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* What proportion of participants achieved diabetes remission (normal blood sugar for at least 3 months without medication)?
* What proportion of participants achieved ≥15% weight loss from their initial weight?
* What is the impact on weight, body composition, blood pressure, blood sugars, cholesterol and inflammation levels?

Researchers will compare the plant-based intensive lifestyle intervention to the current standard of care.

Participants will be randomly placed into one of two groups:

1. Standard of care, where they will continue their usual diabetes care with their health care providers
2. Plant-based intensive lifestyle intervention, where they will follow a diet and exercise program

Participants in the standard of care will:

* Continue with their usual diabetes care for 12 months
* Attend clinic visits on 5 occasions over the 12 months
* Allow study staff to take measurements (e.g. weight, blood pressure)
* Provide blood samples
* Track their food and exercise and complete questionnaires

Participants in the plant-based intensive lifestyle intervention will:

* Follow a plant-based low calorie diet for 3 months followed by a calorie-balanced plant-based diet for 9 months
* Participate in a 16-week exercise program
* Attend clinic visits every 2-4 weeks over the 12 months
* Allow study staff to take measurements (e.g. weight, blood pressure)
* Provide blood sample
* Track their food and exercise and complete questionnaires

Conditions

• Diabetes Mellitus

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Plant-based intensive lifestyle intervention

The plant-based intensive lifestyle intervention has 2 phases. The first 12-weeks is a weight loss phase consisting of a plant-based, high-plant protein energy restricted total diet replacement (TDR), psyllium-based fibre and complete multivitamin supplements, and vegetable bouillon, with the option of continuing with this phase up to week 20. The second phase is weight-loss maintenance beginning with an 8-week (weeks 12-20) stepped food reintroduction phase with partial meal replacement, progressing towards the 32-week (weeks 20-52) full food introduction phase. These phases focus on introducing a plant-based, high-plant protein, energy balanced, weight loss maintenance diet, which will be supported by a digital program. At weeks 12-28, a 16-week in-person structured exercise training program will be delivered followed by 2-weekly motivational phone calls until the 52-weeks. A 19-session, group-based, structured behavioural support program will be delivered throughout the study.

OTHER

Standard of Care

Participants will continue to receive usual diabetes and obesity management as per current Canadian clinical practice guidelines. The management will continue to be delivered to participants through their family doctor, nurse practitioner, or diabetes care team with standard frequency of contact. Participants will attend clinic visits on 5 occasions (weeks 0, 12, 28, 40 and 52) and will receive motivational phone calls between visits to provide reminders regarding follow-up with their diabetes care providers.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Unity Health Toronto

  collaborator OTHER

• University of Toronto

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dr. Laura Chiavaroli, MSc, PhD · University of Toronto

• Dr. John L Sievenpiper, MD, PhD, FRCPC · University of Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital

• Dr. David JA Jenkins, OC, MD, PhD, DSC, FRCP, FRCPSC · University of Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital

• Dr. Cyril WC Kendall, PhD · University of Toronto

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-09-30

Primary Completion

2028-12-19

Completion

2029-12-30

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations