Intake of total dietary sugar and fibre is associated with insulin resistance among Danish 8-10- and 14-16-year-old girls but not boys. European Youth Heart Studies I and II

OBJECTIVE: To examine the dietary intake of total sugar, added sugar, non-added
sugar and starch as well as dietary fibre and glycaemic index (GI) and their
respective associations with insulin resistance.
DESIGN: Mixed linear models were used to study both cross-sectional and
prospective associations between carbohydrate components and insulin resistance
separately in girls and boys. Diet was assessed by a single 24 h recall interview
and insulin resistance was calculated using the homoestasis model assessment
(HOMA).
SETTING: The Danish part of the European Youth Heart Studies (EYHS) I and II.
SUBJECTS: Girls and boys at 8-10 and 14-16 years from EYHS I (n 651) and
8-10-year-olds from baseline followed up 6 years later in EYHS II (n 233).
RESULTS: Among girls, a difference in dietary total sugar of 43 g/MJ was
associated with a 1 sd difference of HOMA and a difference in dietary fibre of -8
g/MJ was associated with a 1 sd difference of HOMA, independent of age, maturity
and other confounders (both P = 0.03). No baseline associations were found among
boys and no prospective associations were found in either sex.
CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intake of total sugar may play an adverse role and fibre may
play a beneficial role in concurrent insulin resistance among girls but not boys.
Sex differences may be due to differences in maturity, physical activity, food
patterns and selective reporting behaviours.