The disease-fighting potential of produce

Obesity is clearly associated with an increased risk for adult-onset diabetes. Apart from consuming too many calories, however, there are no consistently documented relationships indicating that other nutrition-related factors such as the intake of specific nutrients can raise or lower diabetes risk.

Given that diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been associated with a lower incidence of chronic medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, it is not surprising that researchers would look at a possible relationship between produce intake and diabetes risk as well. A recent article in Preventive Medicine reports the results of one such study.

Link between diet and diabetes risk

Researchers from the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at the fruit and vegetable consumption reported by 9,665 men and women who participated in a nationwide health survey of Americans conducted in the early 1970s. During the ensuing 20 years, 1,018 individuals developed type 2 diabetes, a disease that occurs more commonly as people get older. The researchers compared the produce intake of that group with that of the people who remained free of the disease.

Overall, the participants who developed diabetes averaged slightly fewer daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and were less likely to eat a total of five daily servings of fruits and vegetables than the other participants. When they looked more closely at the data, however, the researchers found that the link between diabetes and produce intake occurred in women but not in men. They could offer no plausible explanation for this difference, which obviously warrants further study.

Why diet makes a difference

The researchers do, however, suggest a number of reasons why fruits and vegetables might have an effect on type 2 diabetes prevention. They note that there are a number of plant compounds found in fruits and vegetables that could potentially affect the risk for diabetes. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of dietary fiber, and some studies have shown that dietary fiber can help control blood sugar levels and help maintain the ability of cells to use insulin effectively. Fruits and vegetables are also good sources of minerals like magnesium that play a role in the way insulin works. Researchers are also examining the possibility that the antioxidants found in produce may play a role in mitigating risk.

A handful of other studies have also supported the theory that eating fruits and vegetables may help lower the likelihood of developing diabetes in later life. While not a replacement for the well-established principles of weight loss and increased physical activity, eating more fruits and vegetables may represent an additional method of combating diabetes. And, while this report does not document a decisive link between increased fruit and vegetable consumption and a lower risk of diabetes, it does provide yet another positive reason for eating at least "5-a-day."