Association between flavonoid intake and diabetes risk among the Koreans

Background: We investigated the association between flavonoid intake and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk factors including serum fasting glucose, insulin level, and insulin resistance. Methods: A total of 4186 participants who were involved in the 2007-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were examined. The participants were divided into 2 groups by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) as follows: normal fasting glucose (NFG; FPG <100 mg/dl) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) groups (FPG >= 100 mg/dl). Results: In the IFG group, body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference were increased. Fasting insulin level and homeostasis model assessment estimate of insulin resistance as markers of insulin resistance were higher in the IFG group. Intakes of energy and nutrients, including protein, fat, carbohydrate, crude fiber, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, and iron, did not differ between the 2 groups. For the male subjects, the energy-adjusted flavanone intake was lower in the IFG group than in the NFG group. Insulin and insulin resistance were inversely correlated with intakes of flavones and flavonols among the male subjects. Conclusion: These findings can provide valuable information for further development of appropriate strategies for diabetes prevention in Korea. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.