Diet and glycosylated haemoglobin in the 1946 British birth cohort

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 63; no. 9; pp. 1084 - 1090
• Main Authors: Prynne, C.J, Mander, A, Wadsworth, M.E.J, Stephen, A.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.09.2009; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 1946 British birth cohort; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; blood chemistry; blood glucose; blood sampling; Body weight; Carbohydrates; Causes of; Clinical Nutrition; cohort studies; Cyanocobalamin; Demographic aspects; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diagnosis; Diet; Energy Intake; Epidemiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Folic acid; Food; Food intake; food records; Food sources; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Glycosylated hemoglobin; glycosylation; Health aspects; Hemoglobin; Humans; Hyperglycemia - epidemiology; Hyperglycemia - metabolism; Internal Medicine; Iron; Male; Medical research; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; men; Metabolic Diseases; Middle Aged; Non-starch polysaccharides; Nutrient concentrations; nutrient intake; Nutrient status; nutrition assessment; Nutrition research; Older people; original-article; Polysaccharides; Public Health; Riboflavin; Risk analysis; Risk factors; Sodium; Starch; United Kingdom - epidemiology; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Vitamin B12; women; United Kingdom; glycosylated haemoglobin; diet; NSHD; nutrients; Diet; Hemoglobin A1c; Cohort study; Metabolic diseases; Nutrient; Birth; Feeding
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2009.43

Objectives: Raised glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration is a recognized risk factor for diabetes, the incidence of which is rising worldwide. The intake of certain foods has been related to HbA1c concentration. The aim of this study was to investigate whether nutrient intake, sourced by these foods, was predictive of raised glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration in a British cohort. Subjects: The subjects were 495 men and 570 women who were members of the Medical Research Council National Survey of Health and Development, 1946 birth cohort. Diet was assessed from 5-day records in 1982, 1989 and 1999. HbA1c was measured in blood samples collected in 1999. Individuals in whom concentration of HbA1c was 6.3% were identified as being 'at risk' and their nutrient intake was compared with those whose concentration of HbA1c was within the normal range (6.2%). Results: Lower intakes of protein, carbohydrate, non-starch polysaccharide, iron, folate, vitamin B12 and a higher percentage energy from fat in 1989 were significantly predictive of high HbA1c status in 1999. In 1999, there were no nutrient intakes that were predictive of HbA1c status. Global tests of whether the intakes of energy, carbohydrate, sodium, iron, riboflavin and vitamin B12 at all three time points were related to HbA1c status in 1999, were significant. Conclusion: An increased intake of energy, carbohydrate, sodium, iron, riboflavin and vitamin B12 over 10 years was predictive of raised HbA1c status. Increased energy intake may have resulted in increase in body weight, which is a risk factor for diabetes.