A groundbreaking study led by Jordi Merino of Massachusetts General Hospital has provided further insight into the roles that genetics and lifestyle choices play in the development of type 2 diabetes.
The research involved more than 35,000 U.S. adults and found that both genetic risk factors and diet quality independently affect one’s risk of developing the disease.
The Study Design
The study was aimed at investigating the relationship between genetics and lifestyle factors in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The research analyzed data from 35,759 U.S. health professionals over 902,386 person-years of follow-up.
Data from three comprehensive cohort studies were compiled to measure how genetic factors, represented by a global polygenic score, and diet quality, gauged by the Alternate Healthy Eating Index, influence diabetes risk.
Key Findings
The study found that regardless of one’s genetic predisposition, poor diet quality was linked to a 30% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The relative risk increased by 1.29 per standard deviation in the global polygenic score and by 1.13 per 10-unit decrease in the Alternate Healthy Eating Index.
Interestingly, the combined impact of poor diet quality and increased genetic risk was found to be similar to the sum of their individual risks, highlighting their independent associations with diabetes risk.
Limitations
One limitation to note is that the cohort sample may not be fully generalizable to other populations, as the study focused on U.S. health professionals.
Implications and Future Directions
Jordi Merino emphasized that the study’s findings underline the importance of both genetic screening and dietary interventions in managing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The results could significantly shape future strategies aimed at preventing the disease.
Those interested in diabetes prevention may also explore studies on achieving type 2 diabetes remission and the benefits of consuming an avocado per day for diabetes prevention.
Conclusion
This study makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the intricate relationship between genetics and lifestyle factors, particularly diet quality, in the development of type 2 diabetes.
It not only reaffirms the importance of healthy eating but also underscores the need for genetic screening in comprehensive strategies aimed at diabetes prevention.
For those concerned about diabetes, this study provides a compelling reason to pay attention to both their genetic risk factors and their diet quality in mitigating the risk of developing this increasingly prevalent condition.
The study was published in the esteemed PLOS Medicine journal.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about a cure for type 2 diabetes and 5 vitamins that may prevent complications in diabetes.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about unhealthy plant-based diets linked to metabolic syndrome, and results showing Mediterranean diet could help reduce the diabetes risk by 30%.
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