Macrobiotic diet: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

The macrobiotic diet is a diet that stresses vegetarianism and eating whole, healthy foods. Some versions of the diet include dairy, fish, and meat.

The macrobiotic diet seems to reduce swelling. Certain macrobiotic diets might also help to balance bacteria in the gut.

People use the macrobiotic diet for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Uses & Effectiveness

We currently have no information for Macrobiotic diet overview.

Side Effects

Special Precautions and Warnings

The macrobiotic diet is possibly safe when it includes dairy, fish, or nutritional supplements to ensure that nutritional needs are met. But following a strict macrobiotic diet that doesn't include these modifications is possibly unsafe. Following a strict macrobiotic diet might increase the risk of certain nutrient deficiencies, including calcium, iron, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, and vitamin D.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if the macrobiotic diet is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Children: Following a strict macrobiotic diet is possibly unsafe in infants and children. This diet can lead to nutrient deficiencies. These deficiencies have been linked with reduced intelligence and reduced height in children. There isn't enough reliable information to know if the macrobiotic diet is safe in infants or children when modifications are made to ensure nutritional needs are met.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Macrobiotic diet overview.

Dosing

There are different forms of the macrobiotic diet. It generally stresses that 40% to 60% of daily calories come from vegetables and whole grains. Animal products should only be eaten in small amounts on a monthly basis, and foods in the nightshade family, such as potatoes and tomatoes, should be avoided. Very strict forms of the diet recommend avoiding animal products completely. Nutritional supplements may be necessary to ensure nutritional needs are met. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before starting this diet.

View References

REFERENCES:

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Louwman MW, Van Dusseldorp M, van de Vijver FJ, et al. Signs of impaired cognitive function in adolescents with marginal cobalamin status. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;72(3):762-9.

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Dagnelie PC, Van Staveren WA. Macrobiotic nutrition and child health: results of a population-based, mixed-longitudinal cohort study in The Netherlands. Am J Clin Nutr 1994;59(5 Suppl):1187S-1196S.

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Parsons TJ, Van Dusseldorp M, van der Vliet M, et al. Reduced bone mass in Dutch adolescents fed a macrobiotic diet in early life. J Bone Miner Res 1997;12(9):1486-94.

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Dagnelie PC, Van Staveren WA, Vergote FJ, et al. Increased risk of vitamin B-12 and iron deficiency in infants on macrobiotic diets. Am J Clin Nutr 1989;50(4):818-24.

Van Dusseldorp M, Schneede J, Refsum H, et al. Risk of persistent cobalamin deficiency in adolescents fed a macrobiotic diet in early life. Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69(4):664-671.

Strollo R, Soare A, Manon Khazrai Y, et al. Increased sclerostin and bone turnover after diet-induced weight loss in type 2 diabetes: a post hoc analysis of the MADIAB trial. Endocrine. 2017;56(3):667-674.

Candela M, Biagi E, Soverini M, et al. Modulation of gut microbiota dysbioses in type 2 diabetic patients by macrobiotic Ma-Pi 2 diet. Br J Nutr. 2016;116(1):80-93.

Harmon BE, Carter M, Hurley TG, Shivappa N, Teas J, Hébert JR. Nutrient Composition and Anti-inflammatory Potential of a Prescribed Macrobiotic Diet. Nutr Cancer. 2015;67(6):933-40.

Porrata-Maury C, Hernández-Triana M, Ruiz-Álvarez V, et al. Ma-Pi 2 macrobiotic diet and type 2 diabetes mellitus: pooled analysis of short-term intervention studies. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2014;30 Suppl 1:55-66.

Soare A, Del Toro R, Khazrai YM, et al. A 6-month follow-up study of the randomized controlled Ma-Pi macrobiotic dietary intervention (MADIAB trial) in type 2 diabetes. Nutr Diabetes. 2016;6(8):e222.

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