Fruit and vegetables consumption and type 2 diabetes prevention

In this issue of the Global Fruit & Veg Newsletter, three summary reports are presented. Kjell Olsson et al. examined 18 years’ risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in relation to carbohydrate intakes in 26 662 Swedish men and women. High intakes of monosaccharides and fruits were associated with lower T2D risk, while intakes of disaccharides and sweets associated with higher risk. In men, intakes of vegetables were associated with lower risk of T2D.

Nita Forouhi et al. examined associations of plasma concentrations of vitamin C and six carotenoids with the incidence of T2D in a large EPIC-InterAct case-cohort study in 8 European countries. Higher concentrations of vitamin C and total carotenoids were associated with lower risk of T2D. Selfreported fruit and vegetables intake was higher (508 g/d) in individuals with the highest composite biomarker score based on vitamin C and carotenoids concentrations than in the lowest score (274 g/d) of five biomarker categories. The authors conclude that, it is fruit and vegetables intake as such not vitamins that is beneficial in diabetes prevention.

The cross-sectional study by Xu Jia et al. summarized by Jean-Michel Lecerf reported whether the impact of genetic risk score (GRS) of T2D is modified by fruit and vegetables intake in Chinese population. Main finding was that a higher fruit and vegetables intake seems to overcome the genetic risk, while a bad combination was low F&V intake with high GRS.

In experimental studies, high intake of fructose is linked with the risk of fatty liver and high serum triglycerides, but plenty use of fruit and vegetables, as the present studies confi rm, is good for health. Goal for fruit and vegetables is 500 g a day – in line with new results of the EPIC-InterAct Study.

Matti Uusitupa

Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, FINLAND