Vegetable but not fruit consumption reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese women.

Consistent consumption of vegetables may protect women against the development of type 2 diabetes.

This study investigated the role of fruits and vegetables in the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Using validated food frequency questionnaires, researchers examined the diets of 64,191 Chinese women with no previous history of diabetes or other chronic disease. The type 2 diabetes relative risk of each participant in this study was also determined.

Researchers discovered that high consumers of vegetables had low odds of developing type 2 diabetes compared to rare- and non-consumers. On the other hand, increased intake of fruits was found to have no significant effect on type 2 diabetes risk. The results of this hypothesis support the growing body of evidence that regular consumption of diets high in vegetables is vital in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.