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Polyphenol intake confers cardiometabolic benefit in type 2 diabetes
Older adults with type 2 diabetes who consume greater quantities of foods or beverages containing polyphenols showed a modestly improved cardiometabolic profile and reduced subclinical inflammation vs. those consuming lower quantities of polyphenols, according to a cross-sectional study.
Marilena Vitale, PhD, of the department of clinical medicine and surgery at University of Naples Federico II, and colleagues analyzed data from 2,573 Italian adults with type 2 diabetes aged 50 to 75 years participating in the TOSCA.IT study, a randomized clinical trial designed to compare glucose-lowering drugs with respect to cardiovascular events. Participants completed the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) questionnaire to assess dietary habits. Researchers measured plasma lipids, blood pressure, C-reactive protein and HbA1c, and used U.S. Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases to estimate the polyphenol content of the habitual diet. Researchers stratified participants by tertiles of energy-adjusted polyphenol intake.
Within the cohort, mean total polyphenol intake was 683.3 mg per day; 378.7 mg/1,000 kcal for men and 374 mg/1,000 kcal for women after adjustment for energy intake. Flavonoids and phenolic acids accounted for 95% of total polyphenol intake.
Compared with adults in the lowest tertile of energy-adjusted polyphenol intake, adults in the highest tertile of energy-adjusted polyphenol intake had higher HDL (46.9 mg/dL vs. 45.1 mg/dL) and lower LDL (102.1 mg/dL vs. 103.2 mg/dL), triglycerides (148 mg/dL vs. 153.4 mg/dL), systolic BP (134.3 mm Hg vs. 135.3 mm Hg), diastolic BP (79.6 mm Hg vs. 80.5 mm Hg), HbA1c (7.67% vs. 7.7%) and C-reactive protein (1.25 mg/dL vs. 1.29 mg/dL), after multivariable adjustment (P < .001 for all).
Results persisted when researchers conducted separate analyses for flavonoids or phenolic acids alone.
Participants with a higher polyphenol intake were older, had lower BMI, waist and hip circumference, were more likely to be smokers and consumed more alcoholic beverages, according to researchers.
“The differences in metabolic profile, [BP] and markers of inflammation among the different tertiles of polyphenols and their main classes are statistically significant, but their magnitude is modest and can hardly be considered of clinical interest, at least at the level of the individual patient,” the researchers wrote. “However, it could be relevant when translated at the population level.” – by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.