Higher Intake of Fruit and Vegetables May Provide Blood Sugar Benefits

According to a new study, higher intake of fruits and vegetables may be associated with a lower risk of developing prediabetes and diabetes in men.

Participants in the study included 6,961 adults who were part of the Stockholm Diabetes Prevention Program cohort. They were followed for 20 years. Fruit and vegetable intake was evaluated at baseline, year 9, and year 15 using a food frequency questionnaire. Blood sugar levels were also measured during those time periods. All incidences of prediabetes and diabetes were recorded

Men with the highest intake of fruit and vegetables were found to have a 24% lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those with the lowest intake. Men with the highest intake of fruit were found to have a lower risk of developing prediabetes compared to those with the lowest intake. Higher intake of apples and pears was associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes in both men and women.

The study was conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institutet. It was published online ahead of print on April 18, 2022 in the European Journal of Nutrition.