THE ASSOCIATION OF DIETARY-FIBERS WITH GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE IS PARTLY EXPLAINED BY CONCOMITANT INTAKE OF THIAMINE - THE HOORN STUDY

Epidemiologic studies have shown an association between the intake of dietary fibres and 2-h glucose values. Food rich in dietary fibres is often also rich in thiamine. Animal studies have shown that thiamine d eficiency can induce glucose intolerance. Our aim was to investigate t he association between fibre consumption and thiamine intake on the on e hand and glucose tolerance on the other hand. We used data from the Hoorn Study, a study of glucose tolerance among 1008 men and 1188 wome n, aged 50-75 years, without diabetes. In linear regression analyses, fibre intake was inversely associated with fasting glucose. There was also an inverse association between fibre intake and 2-h glucose but i t dis appeared for the greater part after adjustment for fasting gluco se. Fibre intake appeared to be strongly correlated with thiamine inta ke, and this correlation explained the remaining part of the associati on between fibre intake and 2-h glucose. Thiamine intake appeared to h ave a strong and relevant association with 2-h glucose, which was inde pendent of fibre intake and fasting glucose. This association was bord erline after adjustment for potential confounders. In women, but not i n men, the effect of thiamine intake on 2-h glucose seemed to be modif ied by fibre intake, independent of potential confounders. In conclusi on, part of the association between fibre intake and glucose tolerance is possibly attributable to concomitant thiamine intake.