A study has found that children who are predisposed to type 1 diabetes and consume bananas, oatmeal and yogurt are more likely to get the disease, while eating strawberries and blueberries reduces the risk.
The study showed that wheat is also a risk factor for the autoimmune form of diabetes, while vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and kale have a protective effect.
The professor who authored the results said the fact that some fruits contain traces of pesticides may explain why some increase and others decrease the risk of type 1 diabetes.
Suvi Virtanen and her colleagues at the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare analyzed the diets of 5,674 Finnish children who were genetically predisposed to the disease, following them from birth to the age of six. Ninety-four of the children had developed type 1 diabetes by that age, and another 206 had developed islet cell autoimmunity, meaning their risk of getting it was much higher.
The researchers analyzed 34 different food groups and found that the more fruit such as bananas, oats or rye the children ate, the greater their risk of becoming ill.
This finding may be disconcerting to parents because, Virtanen adds, "many of the foods we found to be associated with increased risk of type 1 diabetes and disease process are considered part of a healthy diet."
In contrast, however, eating strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and other berries appears to protect children from the disease. The more they ate them, the lower their risk was.
"Berries are particularly rich in polyphenols, plant compounds that can suppress inflammation associated with the development of type 1 diabetes. On the other hand, berries may contain harmful substances not found in fruit. For example, fruits may not contain pesticides that are found in other fruits," says Virtanen. She is presenting her findings at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Madrid.
She added: "It is important to identify which factors in these foods are responsible for these associations. If the fruit is found to contain a certain protective factor, for example, this substance or the fruit itself could be used to prevent T1D."
But she said it would be premature to issue any dietary recommendations for babies and infants based on the results of the study. | BGNES
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