What Is Triggering India's Diabetes Epidemic? ICMR Study Explains

A low-AGE diet of low-fat milk, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can reduce the risk of diabetes, the study found.

Did you know that consumption of AGE (Advanced Glycation End Products)-rich foods, like fried foods, chips, cakes, and other ultra-processed foods, are significantly contributing to India's spiralling diabetes crisis? A groundbreaking clinical trial-- conducted by researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF)-- found that a low-AGE diet could help lower the risk of diabetes.

AGEs are reportedly harmful compounds that form through a process called glycation of proteins or lipids after exposure to sugar. It is a type of carbohydrate-containing aldehyde group (CHO). These biomarkers can indicate ageing and the development or worsening of many degenerative diseases.

Published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, the government-funded study found that a low-AGE diet, which is low-fat milk, rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in overweight and obese individuals. India has been dubbed as the diabetes capital of the world, with over 101 million affected by the lifestyle disorder. The urban population in particular is more vulnerable to diabetes due to lifestyle changes that promote physical inactivity.

"The rise in the diabetes epidemic in India is primarily driven by obesity, physical inactivity and eating of unhealthy diets which are rich in AGEs," Dr V Mohan, chairman of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation said. 

The study was conducted over 12 weeks and involved 38 overweight adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23 or higher. On these individuals, researchers compared the effects of two diets - one high in AGEs and the other low in AGEs.

As per the study, participants on the high-AGE diet showed higher levels of AGEs and inflammation, while those on the low-AGE diet showed improved insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels. The study noted that cooking methods like frying, roasting and grilling increase the AGE levels in food while boiling keeps them in check.

''In summary, low-dAGE diets exhibited improvement in the sensitivity and reduction in inflammatory levels compared to high-dAGE diets. Hence, a study first time in India revealed that low dAGE diets could be a potential strategy to reduce diabetes risk,'' the study read.