Dietary antioxidant capacity is inversely associated with diabetes biomarkers: The ATTICA study

Psaltopoulou, T.; Panagiotakos, D.B.; Pitsavos, C.; Chrysochoou, C.; Detopoulou, P.; Skoumas, J.; Stefanadis, C.

doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2009.11.005

« Previous Next »Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume 21, Issue 8 , Pages 561-567, August 2011

Dietary antioxidant capacity is inversely associated with diabetes biomarkers: The ATTICA study

T. Psaltopoulou
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
D.B. Panagiotakos
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
- Corresponding author at: 46 Paleon Polemiston St. Glyfada, Attica, 166 74, Greece. Tel.: +30 210 9603116; fax: +30 210 9600719.
C. Pitsavos
- First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
C. Chrysochoou
- First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
P. Detopoulou
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece
J. Skoumas
- First Cardiology Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
C. Stefanadis
- Department of Nutrition Science – Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece

Received 1 June 2009; received in revised form 8 August 2009; accepted 17 November 2009. published online 22 February 2010.

Abstract

Background and aims

Elevated dietary antioxidant activity has been regarded as providing potential benefits to health. The present work aimed at evaluating the association of glycemic indices with total dietary antioxidant capacity in healthy adults.

Methods and results

The ATTICA study consisted of men and women, randomly selected from all areas of Attica region in Greece. In this work, a random sub-sample from the ATTICA study's database was studied, consisting of 551 men (41 ± 11 years) and 467 women (38 ± 11 years), with complete nutritional and biochemical information. Dietary habits were evaluated using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. The dietary antioxidant capacity was based on published values for Italian foods measured by three different assays: ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC). Inverse, age–energy adjusted correlations were observed between FRAP and log-glucose (r = −0.149, p = 0.001), log-insulin (r = −0.221, p = 0.001) and log-HOMA-IR (r = −0.186, p = 0.001) concentration, as well as with TRAP and TEAC. After controlling for age, gender, body mass index, physical activity status, smoking habits and energy intake, multi-adjusted analysis confirmed the previous relationships only among participants who were not on the Mediterranean dietary pattern.

Conclusions

Although more prospective studies are required, the data presented support the view that dietary modification towards higher consumption of antioxidants should be implemented in public health strategies, in order to better control glycemic markers in individuals, and prevent the development of diabetes at the population level.

Keywords: Antioxidants, Inflammation, Glucose, Diet, Atherosclerosis, Diabetes