Accueil Food for thought

A large European study has found links between cereal fibre intake and a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings were backed by a meta-analysis of the scientific literature.

 

The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, reported results from the EPIC study, a long-term observational study of nearly 25,000 adults. Diets were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, while diagnoses of diabetes were collated between 1994 and 2005. The results showed that people with the highest intakes of cereal fibre were 28% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people with the lowest intakes. Surprisingly, no significant association was found between fruit and vegetable fibre consumption and diabetes risk.  

 

A literature review and meta-analysis conducted by the same authors backed these findings and revealed an additional relationship between a high magnesium intake and a low risk of type 2 diabetes. Wholegrain cereals are a rich source of magnesium. The authors concluded that cereal fibre and magnesium could be protective against diabetes.