Associations between dietary fiber and inflammation, hepatic function and risk of type 2 diabetes in older men: potential mechanisms for benefits of fiber on diabetes risk
- S Goya Wannamethee, PhD (goya{at}pcps.ucl.ac.uk)1,
- Peter H Whincup, FRCP PhD2,
- Mary Thomas, MSc1 and
- Naveed Sattar, FRCPath, PhD3
- 1. Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College Medical School, Hampstead Campus, London NW3 2PF, UK
- 2. British Heart Foundation Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, G12 8TA
- 3. Division of Community Health Sciences, St George's, University of London SW17 ORE, UK
Abstract
Aims: To examine the relationship between dietary fiber and risk of type 2 diabetes in older men and the role of hepatic and inflammatory markers.
Methods: A prospective study of 3428 non-diabetic men aged 60-79 years followed up for 7 years, during which there were 162 incident cases of type 2 diabetes.
Results: Low total dietary fiber (lowest quartile;<=20g/day ) was associated with increased risk of diabetes after adjustment for total calorie intake and potential confounders (relative risk, 95% CI −1.47, 1.03-2.11). This increased risk was seen separately for both low cereal and low vegetable fiber intake. Dietary fiber was inversely associated with inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 [IL-6]) and with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Adjustment for these markers attenuated the increased risk (1.28 [0.89,1.86]).
Conclusion: Dietary fiber is associated with reduced diabetes risk which may be partly explained by inflammatory markers and hepatic fat deposition.
Footnotes
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- Received March 10, 2009.
- Accepted June 30, 2009.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
