Dietary antioxidant intake and risk of type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The intake of antioxidants was studied for its ability to predict type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
A cohort of 2,285 men and 2,019 women 40-69 years of age and free of diabetes at baseline (1967-1972) was studied. Food consumption during the previous year was estimated using a dietary history interview. The intake of vitamin C, four tocopherols, four tocotrienols, and six carotenoids was calculated. During a 23-year follow-up, a total of 164 male and 219 female incident cases occurred.


RESULTS
Vitamin E intake was significantly associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The relative risk (RR) of type 2 diabetes between the extreme quartiles of the intake was 0.69 (95% CI 0.51-0.94, P for trend = 0.003). Intakes of alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, and beta-tocotrienol were inversely related to a risk of type 2 diabetes. Among single carotenoids, beta-cryptoxanthin intake was significantly associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.44-0.78, P < 0.001). No association was evident between intake of vitamin C and type 2 diabetes risk.


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the hypothesis that development of type 2 diabetes may be reduced by the intake of antioxidants in the diet.
Montonen
Jukka
J
National Public Health Institute, Department of Health and Functional Capacity, Helsinki, Finland. jukka.montonen@klt.fi
Knekt
Paul
P
Järvinen
Ritva
R
Reunanen
Antti
A
D000975:Antioxidants; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002338:Carotenoids; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014810:Vitamin E
D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E; D002338:Carotenoids; D001205:Ascorbic Acid