Diet has a major impact on the likelihood of developing diabetes. Eating foods rich in so-called flavonoids helps reduce the risk of the disease.
A new study involving experts from Queen's University Belfast examined the connection between the flavonoid content of the diet and the risk of type 2 diabetes. The study results have been published in the journal “Nutrition & Diabetes”.
Flavonoid-rich diet and diabetes
The research considered data from a total of 113,097 participants from the UK Biobank study to determine whether the intake of a flavonoid-rich diet, the individual flavonoid subclasses and the main flavonoid-rich foods is associated with the risk of diabetes.
In order to determine the amount of flavonoids the participants consumed, at least two 24-hour food records were evaluated. Based on the average daily intake, ten flavonoid-rich foods were selected, from which the researchers calculated a so-called Flavodiet Score (FDS).
Next, the team conducted various analyses, also taking into account possible confounding factors, to determine the relationship between dietary stress and the onset of type 2 diabetes.
According to the researchers, a total of 2,628 cases of type 2 diabetes occurred during a medical follow-up period of twelve years.
Flavonoid senken Diabetes-Risk
A higher Flavodiet score, which was characterized by the average consumption of six servings of flavonoid-rich foods per day, was associated with a 26 percent reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
Experts cite a lower rate of inflammation and better kidney and liver function as at least a partial explanation for this risk reduction.
Tea, apples and berries particularly effective
When looking at individual foods, consuming at least four cups of black or green tea per day was associated with a 21 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Consuming one serving of berries per day reduced the risk by 15 percent, and one apple per day was associated with a 12 percent lower risk, the team reports.
In addition, a 19 to 28 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes was observed in people with the highest intake of each flavonoid subclass compared to people with the lowest intake, the researchers add.
In summary, increased consumption of foods containing flavonoids is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Antidiabetic effect of flavonoids/h2> In addition, previous studies had already found a beneficial effect on the risk of diabetes for individual flavonoid-rich foods.
For example, a research paper published in the English-language journal “Molecules” found that the fruit of the sloe has a preventive effect against diabetes due to the flavonoids catechin, epicatechin and rutin it contains.
Another study, published just a few days ago in the journal “Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology”, has shown that the flavonoid silibinin (also called silybin) from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has an antidiabetic effect.
Pay attention to flavonoid intake
Overall, the study results indicate that flavonoids can make an important contribution in the fight against diabetes and that the diet should include as many flavonoid-rich foods as possible in order to prevent diabetes and diabetic complications. (as)