Research

From a preventive perspective

Our research

Our research is focused on preventive medicine – the science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting human health through organized efforts and informed choices.

We work closely together with Lund University and collaborate with many other universities, hospitals and scientific institutions around the world.

For the past 15 years, we have followed the longevity research conducted in Okinawa, Japan. The elderly population there enjoys the longest and healthiest life on earth. Few suffer from lifestyle related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity so prevalent in the West. Our aim is to study how similar health benefits can also be achieved on a Scandinavian population.

Besides food and dietary habits, our extended research program also integrates the other contributing factors of longevity; physical activity, social support and meaningfulness in life.

The main goals

Our food and nutrition research aims to:

  • Reverse malnutrition
  • Maintain adequate muscle and energy reserve
  • Promote weight loss
  • Manage various symptoms and side-effects in order to maximize quality of life

The Okinawan focus

Since 2006, we have developed the Okinawan-based Nordic diet®. It has been designed according to the principles of the Okinawan Centenarian Study – the longest, continuously running study of centenarians in the world (established 1975).

Between 2014–2019 we have conducted a series of clinical studies where our modified Nordic diet was tested on Scandinavian patients with type-2 diabetes. These studies were conducted in collaboration with independent university groups in Sweden and Great Britain and showed considerable improvements in anthropometry (body weight and size), metabolic control (blood sugar and fasting insulin), oral health and overall quality of life. In many cases, diabetes medication could be decreased or even cancelled.1-11

In 2018, we were invited to replicate some of our key findings together with scientific institutions and food companies in Singapore and P.R. China.

The next step

We continue our research by establishing a Nordic Okinawa Program for multi-disciplinary research on healthy aging in Scandinavia. In this extended research program we include physical activity, social support, behavioral patterns and various aspects of meaningfulness.

More information coming soon.

Publications

Browse and download publications

1
Modification of a traditional breakfast leads to increased satiety along with attenuated plasma increments of glucose, C-peptide, insulin, and GIP in human. Nutr Res 2016. Apr;36(4):359-368
Ohlsson B, Höglund P, Roth B and Darwiche G
2
Two meals with different carbohydrate, fat and protein contents render equivalent postprandial plasma levels of calprotectin, cortisol, triglycerides and zonulin. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2016. Nov;67(7):872-80
Ohlsson B, Darwiche G, Roth B and Höglund P
3
An Okinawan-based Nordic diet improves anthropometry, metabolic control, and quality of life in Scandinavian patients with type 2 diabetes: a pilot trial. Food Nutr Res 60: 32594, 2016
Darwiche G, Höglund P, Roth B, Larsson E, Sjöberg T, Wohlfart B, Steen S and Ohlsson B
4
High fiber, fat and protein contents lead to increased satiety, reduced sweet cravings, and decreased gastrointestinal symptoms, independently of anthropometric, hormonal, and metabolic factors. J Diabet Metabol 2017. 8:733
Ohlsson B, Darwiche G, Roth B, Bengtsson M and Höglund P
5
Calprotectin in serum and zonulin in serum and feces are elevated after introduction of a diet with lower carbohydrate content and higher fiber, fat and protein contents. Biomed Rep. 2017 Apr; 6(4): 411–422
Ohlsson B, Roth B, Larsson E and Höglund P
6
Anthropometric and metabolic improvements in human type 2 diabetes after introduction of an Okinawan-based Nordic diet are not associated with changes in microbial diversity or SCFA concentrations. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2018; Mar 14;62
Huang F, Nilholm C, Roth B, Linninge C, Höglund P, Nyman M and Ohlsson B
7
Alignments of endocrine, anthropometric, and metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetes after intervention with an Okinawa-based Nordic diet. Food Nutr Res 2018. Mar 14;62
Ohlsson B, Darwiche G, Roth B and Höglund P
8
Improved General and Oral Health in Diabetic Patients by an Okinawan-Based Nordic Diet: A Pilot Study. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jul; 19(7): 1949
Holmer H, Widén C, Bengtsson W. V, Coleman M, Wohlfart B, Steen S, Persson R and Sjöberg K
9
Dietary intervention with an Okinawan-based Nordic diet in type 2 diabetes renders decreased interleukin-18 concentrations and increased neurofilament light concentrations in plasma, Nutrition Research 60; 13-25, 2018
Nilholm C, Roth B, Höglund P, Blennow K, Englund E, Hansson O, Zetterberg H and Ohlsson B
10
An Okinawan‑based Nordic diet improves glucose and lipid metabolism in health and type 2 diabetes, in alignment with changes in the endocrine profile, whereas zonulin levels are elevated (Review), Exp Ther Med April 17: 2883-2893, 2019
Ohlsson B
11
Impact of an Okinawa/Nordic based diet on endocrinological and periodontal conditions in individuals with type-2 diabetes. A randomized clinical trial, pending publication (2022)
Persson R, Widén C, Wohlfart B, Sjöberg K, Steen S, Sjöberg T, Coleman M and Holmer H

Further reading suggestions

The Okinawa Program: How the World’s Longest-Lived People Achieve Everlasting Health — And How You Can Too.
Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox, Makoto Suzuki. Three Rivers Press. New York. 2001.
The Okinawa Diet Plan. Get leaner, live longer, and never feel hungry.
Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox, Makoto Suzuki. Clarkson Potter/ Publishers. New York. 2004.