Dietary Fiber and Glucose Tolerance in Japanese Brazilians
- Daniela Saes Sartorelli1,
- Renata Damião Freire2,
- Sandra Roberta Gouveia Ferreira2,
- Marly Augusto Cardoso1 and
- for the Japanese-Brazilian Diabetes Study Group*
- 1Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- 2Department of Preventive Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Marly Augusto Cardoso, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 715, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, 01246-904. E-mail: marlyac{at}usp.br
Although the evidence for a protective effect of high total dietary fiber intakes on diabetes appears to be strong (1), the role of food sources of dietary fiber in the etiology of impaired glucose disturbances is poorly understood (2). Epidemiological studies suggest that high intakes of whole grain foods (3,4) and vegetables (5–7) may prevent diabetes. On the other hand, the impact of consumption of fruits and fruit juices (5,6,8), legumes (5,9), and refined grains (3,10) has been investigated in a few controversial investigations.
Here, we evaluated the relationship between fiber-related dietary factors and the risk of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) among Japanese Brazilians.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
In 2000, Japanese Brazilians >30 years of age living in Bauru, São Paulo State, Brazil (n = 1,751), were invited to participate. Cross-sectional data from 1,283 first- and second-generation subjects were available (73.3%) (11). For the present analysis, subjects with self-reported impaired glucose disturbances (IFG, IGT, or diabetes; n = 220) and newly diagnosed diabetes (n = 276) whose treatment could interfere in food habits were excluded.
Smoking status, drinking habits, and physical activity were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured using standardized approaches (11). Central obesity was defined as a waist circumference ≥0.90 m for men and ≥0.80 m for women (12). The last two of three measures of blood pressures using an …
