Gaby
A large-scale study conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki found that eating many kinds of fruit and some grains may increase the risk of developing diabetes. The researchers also identified specific foods that might help protect against the disease.
The team focused on how children’s diets might influence the onset of Type 1 diabetes (T1D), a lifelong condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas.
Researchers predict the incidence of T1D in children will double over the next 20 years. Finland has the world’s highest rate of the disease, affecting 52.2 children per 100,000.
How Was the Study Conducted?
The team monitored 5,674 children from birth until they turned six. During that time, parents kept detailed records of their children’s diets. All the children were genetically predisposed to T1D. By age six, 94 had developed the disease, while another 206 showed islet autoimmunity — a precursor to T1D.
The researchers found that diabetes was most common among children who consumed higher amounts of fruits, oats, and rye, according to New Atlas. They also found that eating more bananas, wheat, and fermented dairy products like yogurt was linked to a higher risk of islet autoimmunity.
But There’s Good News
The team found that children who ate more raspberries, blueberries, black currants, cranberries, and other berries had a lower risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. They also saw that eating more cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, was associated with a lower likelihood of islet autoimmunity.
“Berries are particularly rich in polyphenols — plant compounds that can help reduce inflammation associated with the development of Type 1 diabetes,” said Suvi Virtanen, who led the study. “On the other hand, other fruits may contain substances that are not found in berries.”
Virtanen said further research is needed to determine which specific food compounds influenced the development of T1D.
For now, the team is hesitant to make dietary recommendations based on these findings, since many of the foods linked to higher T1D risk also have known health benefits.
“Many of the foods we found to be associated with an increased risk of Type 1 diabetes are considered part of a healthy diet; it’s important that our results are replicated in other studies before anyone considers changing a child’s diet,” Virtanen said.
The researchers will present their findings at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid.
