High protein and cholesterol intakes associated with emergence of glucose intolerance in a low-risk Canadian Inuit population.
The rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus among Inuit is 12·2 % in individuals over 50 years of age, similar to the Canadian prevalence. Given marked dietary transitions in the Arctic, we evaluated the dietary and other correlates of not previously diagnosed glucose intolerance, defined as type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance.



Cross-sectional analyses were limited to adults with a completed 2 h oral glucose tolerance test and without pre-existing diabetes. Anthropometric assessments, health and medication usage questionnaires and a 24 h dietary recall were administered.



Canadian International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey (2007-2008).



Inuit adults (n 777).



Glucose intolerance was associated with older age and adiposity. Percentage of energy from protein above the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range of 35 %, compared with intake within the range, was associated with increased odds of glucose intolerance (OR=1·98; 95 % CI 1·09, 3·61) in multivariable analyses. Further, cholesterol intake in the highest three quartiles combined (median exposures of 207, 416 and 778 mg/d, respectively) compared with the lowest quartile (median intake of 81 mg/d) was associated with glucose intolerance (OR=2·15; 95 % CI 1·23, 3·78) in multivariable analyses. Past-day traditional food consumption was borderline protective of glucose intolerance (P=0·054) and high fibre intake was not significantly protective (P=0·08).



The results contribute to the existing literature on high protein and cholesterol intakes as they may relate to diabetes risk.
1School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition and Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE),McGill University,Montreal,Canada.
Saghar
S
Sefidbakht
1School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition and Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE),McGill University,Montreal,Canada.
Louise
L
Johnson-Down
2School of Public Health,University of Alberta,Edmonton,Canada.
T Kue
TK
Young
1School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition and Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE),McGill University,Montreal,Canada.
Grace M
GM
Egeland
D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001110:Arctic Regions; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D004032:Diet; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000208:ethnology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol
Cholesterol intake; Diabetes; Glucose tolerance; Protein intake