Less sugar, more fiber reduce diabetes risk in Latino teens

Less sugar, more fiber reduce diabetes risk in Latino teens
www.chinaview.cn 2009-04-08 19:25:50

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BEIJING, April. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- A new study says reduced amount of sugar and more fiber can cut risk factors linked with type 2 diabetes in overweight Latino adolescents.
Researchers said reducing sugar intake by the equivalent of one can of soda per day and increasing fiber intake by the amount equivalent to one half cup of beans per day can reduce diabetes risk factors in Latino teens.
Dr. Michael Goran, of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and colleagues analyzed data from a 16-week clinical trial in which 66 overweight Latino teens were assigned to one of three groups: (1) a nutrition-only group, with weekly classes directed at reducing sugar and increasing fiber intake, (2) nutrition education plus twice-weekly strength training, and (3) a comparison group with no intervention other than occasional non-health related incentives (such as t-shirts) and phone calls to enhance retention.
The percentage of teens that reduced sugar intake and increased fiber intake was similar in all three groups, hovering around 55 and 59 percent, respectively.
Participants who reduced their sugar intake had significant drops in blood glucose levels and in insulin levels. Both of these changes would be expected to decrease their risk of diabetes.
Also, those who increased their fiber intake had a significant drop in body weight-for-height and in body fat levels.
"Latino children are more insulin resistant and thus more likely to develop obesity-related chronic diseases than their white counterparts," the researchers said.
"To date, only a few studies have examined the effects of a high-fiber, low-sugar diet on metabolic health in overweight youth, and to our knowledge, none have tested the effects of this type of intervention in a mixed-sex group of Latino youth," said the researchers.
(Agencies)
Editor: Huma Sheikh