Friday April 18, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- A Finnish study has found evidence suggesting that eating lots of fruit, berries and vegetables, particularly berries may reduce risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows men eating lots of fruit, berries and vegetables (not counting potatoes, fruit and berry juices) were at 24% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared with those eating little or only small amounts of these foods.

 J. Mursu from Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, Finland and colleagues conducted the study.

Early studies have already associated higher intakes of fruit, berries and vegetables with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.  

The current study was based on data from 2332 Finnish men aged 42 to 60 years who participated in Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study.  At baseline in 1984 to 1989, none of the participants were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus or impaired fasting glucose.   During a 19-year follow-up, 432 cases of type 2 diabetes mellitus were identified.

Those in the highest quartile of total intake of fruit, berries and vegetables were 24% less likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, compared with those in the lowest quartile.

Berries were found to have the most beneficial impact on the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.  Those with the highest intake of berries were 35% less likely to develop the disease, compared with those with the lowest quartile.

However, "no significant associations were shown for fruit, fruit and berry juices, and vegetables."

The researchers concluded "Fruit and vegetables, particularly berries, may reduce risk of T2D (type 2 diabetes mellitus) in men." (David Liu)