Associations of vegetable and potato intakes with markers of type 2 diabetes risk in the AusDiab cohort

Pratik Pokharel; Lauren C Blekkenhorst; Catherine P Bondonno; Kevin Murray; Simone Radavelli-Bagatini; Dianna J Magliano; Robin M Daly; Jonathan E Shaw; Joshua R Lewis; Jonathan M Hodgson; Nicola P Bondonno

doi:10.1210/clinem/dgae333

Associations of vegetable and potato intakes with markers of type 2 diabetes risk in the AusDiab cohort

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2024 May 15:dgae333. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgae333. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Pratik Pokharel^{1

2}, Lauren C Blekkenhorst^{1

3}, Catherine P Bondonno^{1

3}, Kevin Murray⁴, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini¹, Dianna J Magliano⁵, Robin M Daly⁶, Jonathan E Shaw^{5

7}, Joshua R Lewis^{1

3}, Jonathan M Hodgson^{1

3}, Nicola P Bondonno^{1

2

8}

Affiliations

¹ Nutrition & Health Innovation Research Institute, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
² Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Medical School, University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
⁴ School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
⁵ Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute (HDI), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁶ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

PMID: 38747471
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae333

Abstract

Context: The associations of vegetable and potato intakes with type 2 diabetes (T2D) appear to be nuanced, depending on vegetable types and preparation method, respectively.

Objective: We investigated the associations of total vegetable, vegetable subgroup, and potato intakes with 1) markers of T2D at baseline and 2) incident T2D cumulative over a 12-year follow-up period in Australian adults.

Methods: Using data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, intakes of vegetables and potatoes were assessed via a food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Associations between vegetable intake and 1) fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-hour post load plasma glucose (PLG), updated homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA2-%β), HOMA2 of insulin sensitivity (HOMA2-%S), and fasting insulin levels at baseline and 2) cumulative incident T2D at the end of 12-year follow-up were examined using generalized linear and Cox proportional hazards models, respectively.

Results: In total, 8,009 participants were included having median age of 52 years, and vegetable intake of 132 g/day. Higher intake of total vegetable, green leafy, yellow/orange/red, and moderate intakes of cruciferous vegetables was associated with lower PLG. Additionally, higher green leafy vegetable intake was associated with lower HOMA2-%β and serum insulin. Conversely, higher potato fries/chips intakes were associated with higher FPG, HOMA2-%β, serum insulin, and lower HOMA2-%S. Participants with moderate cruciferous vegetables intake had a 25% lower risk of T2D at the end of 12 years follow-up.

Conclusions: A higher intake of vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables, may improve while consuming potato fries/chips, but not potatoes prepared in a healthy way, may worsen glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Our findings suggest a nuanced relationship between vegetable subgroups and their impact on glucose tolerance.

Keywords: Brassica vegetables; diabetes markers; green vegetables; leafy vegetable; nutrition epidemiology; type 2 diabetes mellitus.