Adherence to a Healthy Nordic Food Index Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Type-2 Diabetes--The Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Cohort Study.
BACKGROUND
Type-2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence is rapidly increasing worldwide. Lifestyle factors, in particular obesity, diet, and physical activity play a significant role in the etiology of the disease. Of dietary patterns, particularly the Mediterranean diet has been studied, and generally a protective association has been identified. However, other regional diets are less explored.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between adherence to a healthy Nordic food index and the risk of T2D. The index consists of six food items: fish, cabbage, rye bread, oatmeal, apples and pears, and root vegetables.


METHODS
Data was obtained from a prospective cohort study of 57,053 Danish men and women aged 50-64 years, at baseline, of whom 7366 developed T2D (median follow-up: 15.3 years). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association between the healthy Nordic food index and risk of T2D, adjusted for potential confounders.


RESULTS
Greater adherence to the healthy Nordic food index was significantly associated with lower risk of T2D after adjusting for potential confounders. An index score of 5-6 points (high adherence) was associated with a statistically significantly 25% lower T2D risk in women (HR: 0.75, 95%CI: 0.61-0.92) and 38% in men (HR: 0.62; 95%CI: 0.53-0.71) compared to those with an index score of 0 points (poor adherence).


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence to a healthy Nordic food index was found to be inversely associated with risk of T2D, suggesting that regional diets other than the Mediterranean may also be recommended for prevention of T2D.
Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. sanlac@cancer.dk.
Sandra Amalie
SA
Lacoppidan
Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. ceciliek@cancer.dk.
Cecilie
C
Kyrø
Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, 1014 København K, Denmark. stl@sund.ku.dk.
Steffen
S
Loft
Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. akhj@cancer.dk.
Anne
A
Helnæs
Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. jane@cancer.dk.
Jane
J
Christensen
Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. cph@ph.au.dk.
Camilla Plambeck
CP
Hansen
Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. ccd@ph.au.dk.
Christina Catherine
CC
Dahm
Department of Public Health, Section for Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. ko@ph.au.dk.
Kim
K
Overvad
Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. annet@cancer.dk.
Anne
A
Tjønneland
Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. anja@cancer.dk.
Anja
A
Olsen
D003718:Denmark; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet / Q000208:ethnology / Q000592:standards; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
Nordic diet; Type-2 diabetes (T2D); dietary pattern; prospective cohort.