A recent study suggests that certain dietary patterns might help reduce inflammation and heart disease in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D).
This research was presented at NUTRITION 2024, the annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, held from June 29 to July 2 in Chicago.
Arpita Basu, a researcher from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her team analyzed data from the Coronary Artery Calcification in Type 1 Diabetes study. This study included 563 participants with T1D and 692 participants without diabetes as controls.
The researchers wanted to see how healthy eating patterns were linked to biomarkers related to inflammation and atherosclerosis, a condition where arteries become clogged with fatty substances.
The study focused on the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, known for its heart-healthy benefits. The DASH diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy, while reducing salt, red meat, and sugary foods and drinks.
The researchers found that higher DASH diet scores were linked to lower levels of homocysteine, a marker of inflammation, in both adults with and without T1D. Specifically, for controls, the percent change was −0.53, and for those with T1D, it was −0.57.
Additionally, the study found that in the control group, higher DASH scores were associated with lower levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, another marker related to blood clotting and inflammation, with a percent change of −0.99.
These findings suggest that following the DASH diet could have significant benefits in reducing inflammation and potentially lowering the risk of heart disease.
Dr. Basu highlighted the importance of these findings, stating, “There is an urgent need to address dietary quality in adults with type 1 diabetes.”
She suggested that in clinical settings, using DASH and Mediterranean diet checklists to assess dietary intake could be an effective strategy to identify nutritional gaps and improve diets.
The Mediterranean diet, like the DASH diet, emphasizes plant-based foods, healthy fats such as olive oil, and lean proteins, making it another beneficial option for heart health.
The research team adjusted their analysis for various factors including age, sex, calorie intake, body mass index, follow-up time, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking status, and physical activity.
By accounting for these variables, the researchers ensured that the observed benefits of the DASH diet were not influenced by other health factors.
This study underscores the potential of dietary interventions to manage and improve health outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes.
Since people with T1D are at a higher risk for heart disease due to chronic high blood sugar levels, adopting a heart-healthy diet could be a crucial step in reducing this risk.
In summary, the study presented at NUTRITION 2024 suggests that following dietary patterns like the DASH diet may help reduce inflammation and protect against heart disease in adults with type 1 diabetes.
By focusing on the quality of their diet, individuals with T1D can take an active role in managing their health and reducing their risk of complications.
This research adds to the growing evidence that what we eat can significantly impact our overall health and well-being, especially for those managing chronic conditions like diabetes.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies that pomace olive oil could help lower blood cholesterol, and honey could help control blood sugar.
For more information about diabetes, please see recent studies about Vitamin D that may reduce dangerous complications in diabetes and results showing plant-based protein foods may help reverse type 2 diabetes.
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