Bananas, Oats And Yoghurt Increase Risk Of Diabetes In Susceptible Children: Study (image-unsplash)

New research has found that eating bananas, oats and yogurt by children who are prone to type 1 diabetes may increase the chance of accruing the disease. However, the risk can be lowered by consuming strawberries and blueberries with it.

Suvi Virtanen and colleagues at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare came to this conclusion after their study analysed the diet of 5,674 Finnish children who were genetically susceptible to the disease. They were evaluated from birth to the age of six, reports The Guardian.

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From the study, the professor behind the findings found that 94 of the children had developed type 1 diabetes by that age and another 206 were at much higher risk of acquiring it. When analyzing the food habits of the children, it was found that fruits such as bananas, oats or rye which children ate increased the chance of risk.

The findings had left the parents in awe as the food items considered to be part of a healthy diet were associated with an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.

However, in contrast, eating strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, black currents, and other berries seemed to protect children from the condition. The more they consume, the lesser the risk.

Wheat has also emerged as a risk factor for the autoimmune form of diabetes. The professor noted that the traces of pesticides in fruits explain why some of them heighten the risks while others reduce them.

“Berries are particularly rich in polyphenols, plant compounds which may dampen the inflammation that is associated with the development of type 1 diabetes,” Virtanen said.

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She also added that it is important to find out which factors in the berries prevent the disease thus, the berries itself or the substance from the fruit can be used to prevent T1D.

However, Virtanen said that it would be premature to issue dietary recommendations based on the findings and it also does not align with Diabetes UK’s explanations for the causes of T1D.

Virtanen will present her findings at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Madrid.