Background and objectives: To evaluate the synergistic and individual associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) intensity and the frequency of milk intake in adulthood with newly diagnosed pathoglycemia. Pathoglycemia comprised impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods and study design: This cross-sectional study of 3977 adults was conducted in Mentougou District, Beijing, China. After excluding ineligible individuals or those with missing data, 2977 participants were included in the final analysis. Data on LTPA, milk intake, and other demographic characteristics were obtained through previously designed questionnaires. Newly diagnosed pathoglycemia was determined based on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration.
Results: Among all participants, 21.4% had newly diagnosed pathoglycemia, 9.9% engaged in moderate to vigorous leisure-time physical activity (MVLTPA), and 63.7% drank milk more than once weekly. Relative to those who engaged in low-intensity LTPA and drank milk less than once weekly, those who engaged in MVLTPA (OR: 0.584, 95%CI: 0.410-0.810) and drank milk more than once weekly (OR: 0.734, 95% CI: 0.614-0.878) had a lower risk of pathoglycemia; this association was greater when both variables interacted (OR: 0.446, 95% CI: 0.287-0.669).
Conclusions: MVLTPA and enough frequency of milk intake synergistically decreased the risk of pathoglycemia. A future interventional study including both factors should be performed.