Increased dietary fruit intake was associated with lower burden of carotid atherosclerosis in Chinese patients with Type2 diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Diabetic medicine 2013-01, Vol.30 (1), p.100
• Main Authors: Chan, H.-T, Yiu, K.-H, Wong, C.-Y, Li, S.-W, Tam, S, Tse, H.-F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diabetes
• ISSN: 0742-3071; 1464-5491
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2012.03764.x

Background Previous studies demonstrated that high fruit consumption was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events in patients with Type2 diabetes mellitus. However, the relationship between fruit intake and carotid atherosclerosis in these patients is unknown. We studied the relationship between dietary fruit intake and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with Type2 diabetes. Methods A total of 255 Chinese patients with Type2 diabetes were recruited. Dietary fruit intake was assessed by a validated food-frequency questionnaire, and carotid intima-media thickness was measured by high-resolution ultrasonography. Results Among patients with three different tertiles of fruit intake (14.5±8.6 vs. 41.5±7.1 vs. 92.6±39.7g/day), there was no difference in their clinical characteristics (all P>0.05). Patients with the highest tertile of fruit intake had a significantly higher BMI and diastolic blood pressure than those with the lowest tertile intake. Furthermore, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, 8-isoprostane and superoxide dismutase were similar among the three tertiles of patients (all P>0.05). However, patients with the highest tertile of fruit intake had lower carotid intima-media thickness (0.97±0.02 vs. 1.08±0.03mm, P=0.046) and prevalence of carotid plaque (11.76 vs. 1.18%, P=0.022) than those with the lowest tertile of fruit intake. Multivariate regression analysis revealed the highest tertile of fruit intake ([beta]=-0.086, P=0.049) was independently associated with carotid intima-media thickness. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that, in Chinese patients with Type2 diabetes, higher dietary fruit intake was associated with a lower burden of carotid atherosclerosis as reflected by lower carotid intima-media thickness and prevalence of carotid plaque. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]