Fruit and oats raise risk of type 1 diabetes but berries provide protection, research suggests

Medical Xpress / Diabetologia / European Association for the Study of Diabetes ^ | Sept. 8, 2024 | Professor Suvi Virtanen et al

[ConservativeMind]

New research shows that eating fruit, oats and rye in childhood is associated with a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Eating berries, however, is linked to lower odds of developing the condition.

T1D is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas.

What triggers the immune system's attack is unknown but is thought to involve a combination of a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger such as a virus or foodstuff.

Finland has the highest incidence of T1D globally, with 52.2 cases per 100,000 children under the age of 15—more than five times higher than in the 1950s.

To address this, Professor Virtanen and colleagues explored whether diet in infancy and early childhood was associated with the development of T1D.

A group of 5,674 children with genetic susceptibility to T1D was followed from birth to the age of six.

By the age of six, 94 of the children had developed type 1 diabetes. Another 206 developed islet autoimmunity and so were at substantially increased risk of developing T1D in the next few years.

The 34 food groups covered the entire diet.

The results show that the more fruit, oats or rye children ate, the more their risk of T1D increased.

In contrast, eating strawberries, blueberries, lingonberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and other berries appeared to provide protection against T1D. The more berries a child ate, the less likely they were to develop T1D.

"Berries are particularly rich in polyphenols, plant compounds which may dampen the inflammation that is associated with the development of type 1 diabetes," says Professor Virtanen.

Oats, bananas, fermented dairy products and wheat were associated with an increased risk of islet autoimmunity, whereas cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage, were associated with decreased risk.

[ConservativeMind]

Only 52 out of every 100,000 kids get it by age 15. This was able to capture birth to age six of kids with a genetic predisposition to more likely get it by age 15.

91 out of 5,674 such kids got actual full Type 1 by age six, while 206 got islet autoimmunity by age six, which is effectively “pre Type 1 diabetes.” This is a very high rate of Type 1 issues, so it's a great sample population to review.

The findings seem reasonable and appropriate for being cut off at age six.

[Chickensoup]

My family went through 100 pounds of organic oats every year.

No diabetics

[Lizavetta]

LOL. Agreed. Oats and fruit as the basis for any disease is laughable.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

"and wheat"

Article from some time ago. Indicates that bleached flour could be damaging peoples pancreas. Do not know if this is the case in Finland.

Bleaching agent in flour linked to diabetes

Other later articles by the flour industry deny that this is the case.

Anyway, Yes, we should all have lots of berries when young and old!