The Nordic Diet in Randomized Trials
What did randomized controlled trials of the Nordic diet actually find?
Nordic Diet Companion gathers the randomized trials that fed people a Nordic diet here — including the outcomes where it made no significant difference. The short version of the evidence: modest improvements in lipids and weight under strong study conditions, with several markers unchanged and the overall certainty rated low.
Contents — 5 entries
- 📄 Healthy Nordic Diet and Cardiovascular Risk Factors (NORDIET)
- 📄 Isocaloric Nordic Diet, Lipids and Inflammation (SYSDIET)
- 📄 New Nordic Diet, Weight and Blood Pressure (RCT)
- 📄 Nordic Dietary Patterns and Cardiometabolic Outcomes (GRADE Meta-Analysis)
- 📄 Nordic Diet and Blood-Glucose Control (Meta-Analysis)
📄 Healthy Nordic Diet and Cardiovascular Risk Factors (NORDIET)
Adamsson V, et al. — Journal of Internal Medicine, 2011 · pubmed / 20964740
Nordic Diet Companion research surfaced this report because it covers a controlled trial of a Nordic diet on cardiovascular risk markers. In NORDIET, a 6-week randomized trial of 88 mildly high-cholesterol adults (86 completed) given all their food, the Nordic diet lowered LDL cholesterol by 21% and systolic blood pressure by about 5% versus a usual Western diet, with no significant change in triglycerides or glucose. The trial lasted only 6 weeks and provided every meal free of charge, conditions that do not reflect everyday eating.
What it examines: a 6-week controlled-feeding trial of a Nordic diet and LDL cholesterol. Why it's in the Nordic Diet Companion research index: a randomized controlled-feeding trial of a Nordic diet and cardiovascular markers.
📄 Isocaloric Nordic Diet, Lipids and Inflammation (SYSDIET)
Uusitupa M, et al. — Journal of Internal Medicine, 2013 · pubmed / 23398528
Nordic Diet Companion research surfaced this report because it covers a weight-stable trial that separates diet from weight loss. In SYSDIET, a multicenter randomized trial of 200 adults with metabolic syndrome (166 completed) held at stable weight for 18 to 24 weeks, the Nordic diet lowered non-HDL cholesterol (between-group difference −0.18 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.35 to −0.01) and an inflammation marker, while insulin sensitivity, glucose, and blood pressure did not change significantly. About 17% of participants dropped out, more of them in the control group.
What it examines: an isocaloric Nordic-diet trial isolating diet effects from weight loss. Why it's in the Nordic Diet Companion research index: a weight-stable randomized trial of a Nordic diet and cardiometabolic markers.
📄 New Nordic Diet, Weight and Blood Pressure (RCT)
Poulsen SK, et al. — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2014 · pubmed / 24257725
Nordic Diet Companion research surfaced this report because it covers whether a Nordic diet drives weight loss. In a 26-week randomized trial of 181 centrally obese adults (147 completed) given all their food to eat freely, the New Nordic Diet produced 4.7 kg of weight loss versus 1.5 kg on an average Danish diet (adjusted difference −3.2 kg, 95% CI −4.6 to −1.8), along with lower blood pressure. All foods were supplied free at a dedicated shop, strong adherence support that is hard to reproduce in everyday life.
What it examines: a 6-month trial of a New Nordic Diet and weight loss. Why it's in the Nordic Diet Companion research index: a randomized trial of an ad libitum New Nordic Diet and body weight.
📄 Nordic Dietary Patterns and Cardiometabolic Outcomes (GRADE Meta-Analysis)
Massara P, et al. — Diabetologia, 2022 · pubmed / 36008559
Nordic Diet Companion research surfaced this report because it covers the pooled size and certainty of the Nordic-diet evidence. This 2022 GRADE-assessed review pooled 15 cohorts (over 1 million people) and 6 randomized trials (717 people) and found the trials lowered LDL cholesterol by a small amount (mean difference −0.26 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.52 to 0.00) and the cohorts linked the pattern to slightly lower cardiovascular disease (relative risk 0.93, 95% CI 0.88 to 0.99), with most other effects trivial. The authors rated the certainty of the headline results as low.
What it examines: a GRADE meta-analysis pooling the Nordic-diet trial and cohort evidence. Why it's in the Nordic Diet Companion research index: a meta-analysis estimating the size and certainty of Nordic-diet effects.
📄 Nordic Diet and Blood-Glucose Control (Meta-Analysis)
Zimorovat A, et al. — Acta Diabetologica, 2020 · pubmed / 31172295
Nordic Diet Companion research surfaced this report because it covers whether a Nordic diet improves blood sugar. Pooling 6 randomized trials and 618 participants, the 2020 meta-analysis found no significant change in fasting blood glucose (weighted mean difference −0.05 mmol/L, 95% CI −0.13 to 0.01) and no change in post-meal glucose, while fasting insulin and an insulin-resistance measure did fall. The trials were few and short.
What it examines: a meta-analysis of Nordic-diet trials and blood-glucose markers. Why it's in the Nordic Diet Companion research index: a meta-analysis of the Nordic diet and glycemic control, with a null primary result.
All 5 sources last verified June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Nordic diet lower cholesterol?
Trials show a modest drop. A controlled-feeding trial cut LDL cholesterol 21% (Adamsson, 2011), and a meta-analysis pooled a small LDL reduction of −0.26 mmol/L rated low-certainty (Massara, 2022). This summarizes research and is not medical advice.
Does the Nordic diet help with weight loss?
In one 6-month trial it did — 4.7 kg versus 1.5 kg on a control diet — but all food was provided free (Poulsen, 2014), so everyday results may differ.
Does the Nordic diet improve blood sugar?
Not the headline measure. A meta-analysis of 6 trials found no significant change in fasting glucose, though insulin measures improved (Zimorovat, 2020).
How strong is the trial evidence?
Modest. A GRADE review rated the certainty of the main cardiovascular and LDL findings as low, with only 6 small trials underpinning the trial-level estimates (Massara, 2022).
More in Nordic Diet Research
Educational information only — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to start, stop, or change any diet, supplement, or treatment. Talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making changes. Nordic Diet Companion and Copper Sun Content and Creative, LLC are not medical providers.