Dietary fat intake predicts 1-year change in body fat in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether objectively measured physical activity and dietary macronutrient intake differentially predict body fat in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes and control girls.


METHODS
This study comprised 23 girls (12-19 years) with type 1 diabetes and 19 age-matched healthy control girls. At baseline, physical activity and energy intake were assessed for 7 consecutive days by accelerometry and a structured food diary, respectively. Body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and after 1 year.


RESULTS
Fat intake was positively related to a 1-year change in percentage body fat (P = 0.006), after adjustment for total energy intake. No significant interaction was observed (case-control group x main exposure), indicating that the association between fat intake and gain in body fat was similar in both groups. Physical activity did not predict gain in body fat; however, total physical activity was positively associated with a gain in lean body mass (P < 0.01). Girls treated with six daily dosages of insulin increased their percentage of body fat significantly more than those treated with four daily injections (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In this prospective case-control study, we found that fat intake predicted gain in percentage of body fat in both adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes and healthy control girls. The number of daily insulin injections seems to influence the accumulation of body fat in girls with type 1 diabetes.
Särnblad
Stefan
S
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, S-701 85 Orebro, Sweden. stefan.sarnblad@webaid.nu
Ekelund
Ulf
U
Aman
Jan
J
D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004041:Dietary Fats; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011627:Puberty; D012016:Reference Values
D004041:Dietary Fats