Abstract
Objective: To investigate whether self-reported frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with HbA1C levels in individuals not known to have diabetes, and what dietary and lifestyle factors might explain this association.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Setting: The EPIC-Norfolk Study, a population-based cohort study of diet and chronic disease.
Subjects and methods: A total of 2678 men and 3318 women (45–74 y) not known to have diabetes reported weekly consumption of fruit, green leafy vegetables and other vegetables.
Results: Among men, 274 (10.2%) reported seldom or never eating fruit and 127 (4.7%) seldom or never eating green leafy vegetables. Corresponding numbers in women were 157 (4.7%) and 92 (2.8%), respectively. Participants who reported never or seldom having both fruit and green leafy vegetables had higher mean (s.d.) HbA1C measurements (5.43% (0.71)) than those who reported more frequent consumption (5.34% (0.67); P=0.046). Differences by category of fruit or green leafy vegetable consumption were not substantially changed after adjustment for saturated fat, dietary fibre and plasma vitamin C.
Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that high intake of fruit and green leafy vegetables may influence glucose metabolism independent of dietary fibre or vitamin C alone and that increased consumption may contribute to the prevention of diabetes.
Sponsorship: NJW is an MRC Clinician Scientist Fellow.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 342–348
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
Guarantors: N Wareham and K-T Khaw.
Contributors: LAS, N Wareham and K-TK contributed to the study concept, analysis and interpretation of the data and the drafting of the manuscript. SB, NED, NJW and K-TK are principal investigators of EPIC-Norfolk. RNL, SO and AW contributed to the study design and data collection and management. All authors contributed to the revision and drafting of the final version.
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sargeant, L., Khaw, K., Bingham, S. et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and population glycosylated haemoglobin levels: the EPIC-Norfolk Study. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 342–348 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601162
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601162
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Vegetable and Fruit Intake, Its Patterns, and Cognitive Function: Cross-Sectional Findings among Older Adults in Anhui, China
The Journal of nutrition, health and aging (2022)
-
Fruit and vegetable intake and pre-diabetes: a case–control study
European Journal of Nutrition (2018)
-
Excessive fruit consumption during the second trimester is associated with increased likelihood of gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective study
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
Preserving Brain Function in Aging: The Anti-glycative Potential of Berry Fruit
NeuroMolecular Medicine (2016)
-
Effect of fruit restriction on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes – a randomized trial
Nutrition Journal (2013)