High vegetable intake may decrease diabetes risk

According to a new UK study, increased consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables could reduce the risk of diabetes by 21%.

In the case- cohort study, the quantity and variety of fruit, vegetables, and combined fruit-and-vegetable intake and the incidence of Type 2 diabetes were observed in 3,704 participants for 11 years (1). The study results showed that participants who ate the most fruits and vegetables combined had a 21% lower risk of Type 2 diabetes compared with those who ate the least. The quantity of vegetable intake, but not fruit, was associated with a reduced Type 2 diabetes risk.

The researchers concluded that a diet characterized by a greater quantity of vegetables and a greater variety of both fruit and vegetable intake seems to be associated with a reduced risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diabetes affects over 220 million people globally, and the consequences of high blood sugar kill 3.4 million every year. The WHO expects deaths to double between 2005 and 2030.

1. Cooper A. J. et al. A Prospective Study of the Association Between Quantity and Variety of Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Incident Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. Published online April 2012.