New research presented at the European Society for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) annual meeting in Madrid, Spain (September 9-13), shows that eating fruit, oats and rye in childhood may increase the risk of developing diabetes. 1 diabetes (T1D). However, eating berries can reduce your chances of developing this condition.
T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas. This prevents the body from producing enough of the hormone insulin to properly regulate blood sugar levels.
It is unclear what triggers the immune system attack, but a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors such as viruses and food are thought to be involved.
T1D, the most common form of childhood diabetes, is on the rise worldwide. The number of infected people worldwide is predicted to double in just 20 years, from 8.4 million in 2021 to 17.4 million by 2040. Finland has the highest incidence of T1D in the world, with 52.2 infections per 100,000 children under 15, more than five times the rate in the 1950s.
Professor Svi Virtanen from the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare in Helsinki, who led the study, said, “Type 1 diabetes is a serious disease that requires lifelong treatment, placing a huge burden on patients and their families.'' .
“It can lead to complications such as eye, heart, nerve and kidney problems, can shorten lifespan and has high medical costs (approximately 1 million euros per patient in Finland).
“The rapid increase in type 1 diabetes in children suggests that environmental factors play an important role in the development of this disease. Identifying these factors will help improve type 1 diabetes and its complications. This provides an opportunity to develop strategies to prevent this.
A number of foods have been linked to islet autoimmunity (attack on insulin-producing cells) and T1D, but there is a lack of high-quality evidence from prospective studies and the existence of an association remains controversial. There's room.
To deal with this, Professor Virtanen Researchers investigated whether the diet of thousands of Finnish children during infancy and early childhood was associated with the development of T1D.
5,674 children (3,010 boys, 2,664 girls) People with a genetic susceptibility to T1D were followed from birth until age 6. Information on overall diet was obtained from dietary records repeatedly completed by parents from 3 months to 6 years of age.
By age 6, 94 of the children had developed type 1 diabetes. Another 206 people developed islet autoimmunity, which significantly increased their risk of developing T1D in the coming years..
The 34 food groups covered the entire diet, and when they were all considered, several foods were associated with a higher risk of developing T1D.
To our knowledge, this is the first time that a child's entire diet has been considered simultaneously. ”
Professor Svi Virtanen, Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
The results showed that the more fruit, oats, or rye children ate, the more their risk of T1D increased.
In contrast, eating strawberries, blueberries, lingonberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, and other berries appears to protect against T1D. The more berries a child eats, the less likely they are to develop T1D.
“Berries are particularly rich in polyphenols, plant compounds that may reduce the inflammation associated with the development of type 1 diabetes,” says Professor Virtanen. “On the other hand, berries may contain harmful substances that are not found in berries. For example, berries may not contain pesticides that are found in other fruits.”
Oats, bananas, fermented dairy products (such as yogurt), and wheat were associated with an increased risk of islet autoimmunity, while cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage were associated with a decreased risk.
All associations were independent and occurred regardless of whether other foods were consumed.
“It is important to find out which elements in these foods are responsible for these associations,” says Professor Virtanen. “Are the same causative or protective factors present in multiple foods?
“For example, if berries are found to contain a particular protective factor, that substance or the berry itself could be used to prevent T1D.”
However, it is too early to make dietary recommendations.
Professor Virtanen said: “Many of the foods found to be associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes and the progression of the disease are considered part of a healthy diet and are not likely to cause someone to develop diabetes. It is important that our results be replicated in other studies before consideration.” Change your child's eating habits. ”