Children who are susceptible to type 1 diabetes and eat bananas, oatmeal and yogurt are more likely to develop the disease, while consumption of strawberries and blueberries lowers the risk, research has found.
Wheat also emerged from the study as a risk factor for the autoimmune form of diabetes, while vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage have a protective effect.
The professor behind the findings said the fact that some fruits contain traces of pesticides could explain why some of them increase the risk of type 1 diabetes, but others decrease.
Suvi Virtanen and colleagues at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare analyzed the diets of 5,674 Finnish children who were genetically susceptible to the disease, following them from birth to the age of six. Ninety-four of the children developed type 1 diabetes by that age and another 206 developed islet autoimmunity, which meant they were at a much higher risk of getting it.
The researchers analyzed 34 different food groups and found that the more fruits such as bananas, oats or rye children eat, the greater their risk of contracting the disease.
That finding may confuse parents because, Virtanen added, “many of the foods we found associated with increased risk of type 1 diabetes and the disease process are considered part of a healthy diet.”
In contrast, eating strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and other berries appeared to protect children from the condition. The more they ate, the lower their risk.
“Berries are especially rich in polyphenols, plant compounds that can dampen the inflammation associated with the development of type 1 diabetes.
“On the other hand, fruit can contain harmful substances that are not found in berries. For example, berries can be free of pesticides found on other fruits,” said Virtanen. She presents her findings at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Madrid.
She added: “It is important to find out what factors in these foods are responsible for these associations. If, for example, berries are found to contain a specific protective factor, either that substance or berries themselves could be used to prevent T1D.”
But it would be premature to issue any dietary recommendations for what babies and toddlers should eat based on the findings, she believes.
The findings are inconsistent with Diabetes UK’s explanation for the causes of T1D. It remains unknown, it stressed. But it added that it is “not thought to be caused by what you eat or drink”.
“Type 1 diabetes is thought to develop as a result of a combination of genetics and other factors that are not yet fully understood. But we don’t know more than that. There is nothing to suggest that lifestyle plays a role,” the charity said.
Separate research presented at the same conference shows that “night owls” are almost 50% more likely than those who go to bed earlier to develop type 2 diabetes.
The findings from the Netherlands add to the evidence that people who stay up late often have poorer health and a greater risk of developing diseases, such as cancer, obesity and heart disease, than those who don’t.
However, it is unclear whether this is because many “night owls” drink more, are more likely to smoke and have a worse diet than people who go to bed at a more regular time, or whether this is directly related to the disturbance of their circadian rhythms and not getting as much sleep as doctors consider prudent.
