Dietary Antioxidant Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

OBJECTIVE - The intake of antioxidants was studied for its ability to predict type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A cohort of 2,285 men and 2,019 women 40-69 years of age and free of diabetes at baseline (1967-1972) was studied. Food consumption during the previous year was estimated using a dietary history interview. The intake of vitamin C, four tocopherols, four tocotrienols, and six carotenoids was calculated. During a 23-year follow-up, a total of 164 male and 219 female incident cases occurred. RESULTS - Vitamin E intake was significantly associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The relative risk (RR) of type 2 diabetes between the extreme quartiles of the intake was 0.69 (95% CI 0.51-0.94, P for trend = 0.003). Intakes of α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, and β-tocotrienol were inversely related to a risk of type 2 diabetes. Among single carotenoids, β-cryptoxanthin intake was significantly associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.44-0.78, P < 0.001). No association was evident between intake of vitamin C and type 2 diabetes risk. CONCLUSIONS - This study supports the hypothesis that development of type 2 diabetes may be reduced by the intake of antioxidants in the diet.