Higher intake of dietary dicarbonyl compounds is associated with lower incidence of type 2 diabetes: European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-InterAct case-cohort study
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: PURPOSE: Dicarbonyls are reactive precursors of advanced glycation end-products. They are formed during food processing, and endogenously in humans during glycolysis and lipid peroxidation. Higher plasma dicarbonyls, particularly methylglyoxal (MGO), promote insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, but the association between dietary dicarbonyls intake and type 2 diabetes is unknown. This study examined the associations between dietary dicarbonyls and type 2 diabetes incidence. METHODS: 11,995 incident type 2 diabetes cases and a sub-cohort of 15,797 controls from the prospective multi-center European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-InterAct cohort were included. Intakes of three major dicarbonyls MGO, glyoxal [GO], and 3-deoxyglucosone [3-DG] were estimated at baseline using dietary questionnaires. Type 2 diabetes risk according to dietary dicarbonyl intake was estimated by multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios from Prentice-weighted Cox-regression analyses. RESULTS: Higher intakes of MGO (sample-specific mean intake 3.4 ± 1.3 mg/d) and 3-DG (13.8 ± 10.5) were associated with lower incidence of type 2 diabetes (HR 0.92 [95% CI 0.90–0.95] for 1 SD higher MGO intake and 0.93 [0.90–0.95] for 1 SD higher 3-DG intake). No associations were observed for dietary GO. CONCLUSION: Participants who consumed more dietary dicarbonyls MGO and 3-DG had a lower risk to develop type 2 diabetes. This protective association contrasts with the harmful effects on type 2 diabetes risk reported for endogenously formed dicarbonyls.
Source: European Journal of Nutrition
Authors: Kim Maasen, Ana-Lucia Mayen, Claudia Hana, Viktoria Knaze, Marleen M. J. van Greevenbroek, Simone J. P. M. Eussen, Charlotte Debras, Coen D. A. Stehouwer, Anne Tjønneland, Cecilie Kyrø, Daniel B. Ibsen, Christina C. Dah, Francesca Mancini, Nasser Laouali, Mariem Hajji, Matthias B. Schulze, Rashmita Bajracharya, Verena Katzke, Giovanna Masala, Fabrizio Pasanisi, Lorenzo Milani, Valeria Pala, Marta Farràs Mañé, Conchi Moreno-Iribas, Miguel Rodriguez-Barranco, Sandra Milena Colorado Yohar, Olatz Mokoroa, Keren Papier, Elisabete Weiderpass, Heinz Freisling, Nicholas J. Wareham, Nita G. Forouhi, Sofia Christakoudi, Philippe Vangrieken, Mazda Jenab, Casper G. Schalkwijk
Institutions: Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht University, Centre international de recherche sur le cancer, University of Vienna, Care and Public Health Research Institute, University of Copenhagen, Danish Cancer Society, Aarhus University, University of Cambridge, MRC Epidemiology Unit, Steno Diabetes Center Aarhus, Inserm, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Université Paris-Saclay, Centre de recherche en Epidémiologie et Santé des Populations, University of Potsdam, German Center for Diabetes Research, German Institute of Human Nutrition, German Cancer Research Center, Federico II University Hospital, University of Naples Federico II, University of Turin, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Institut d'Investigació Biomédica de Bellvitge, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Instituto de Salud Pública de Navarra, Navarre Institute of Health Research, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada, Andalusian School of Public Health, Universidad de Antioquia, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria, Basque Government, Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, University of Oxford, King's College London, Imperial College London
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Biochemistry
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,890
Award: G3755121085
OpenAlex ID: W7137899482