'IMBALANCED' INDIAN DIET CAUSES DIABETES, HYPERTENSION.

WHAT INDIANS EAT

DIETARY FAT(HARMFUL):High dietary fat intake; different regions consume 13 to 59 grams per individual daily.

SATURATED FATTY ACIDS(HARMFUL): High intake mostly in urban rather than rural areas(ghee, vanaspati)

CARBOHYDRATES(HARMFUL):High intakes, mostly at dinner.

POLY SATURATED FATTY ACID(BENIFICIAL):Low intake of fish oil,sunflower oil.

FIBRE(BENIFICIAL): Poor intake of fruits and vegetables.

DIETARY MONOSATURATED FATTY ACIDS(BENIFICIAL):Peanuts, olive oil, nuts and seeds, semi sweet or dark chocolate.

In a severe criticsm of the average Indian diet, a study in the coming edition of the prestigious British Journal of Nutrition says that the nutritional imbalance in it is one of the reasons for the increasing cases of diabetes and hypertension in the country. Hypertension is usually an accompany condition in diabetes and is often present in Type 2 diabetes as part of the metabolic syndorome of insulin resistance.

The study, which reviews the influence of dietry nutrients on insulin resistance- also called the metabolic syndrome- in Asian Indians and South Asians, says that there are severe imbalances in the average Indian diet. Data pertaining to nutrient intake, insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Indians and South Asians has been reviewed and dietry imbalances have been reported in the following areas; low intake MUFA, n3 FUFA and more fibre, and high intake of fats saturated fats, carbohydrates and transfatty acids(mostly related to the widespread use of vanaspati,a hydrogenated oil). Data suggests that these nutrients imbalances are associated with insulin resistance and a change lipid profile.

"We have reviewed all kind of literature available and have seen that there is a great imbalance in Indian Diet. What should be consumed in good amount is less and what should be consumed less is in excess."Said Dr Anoop Misra, HoD, Department of Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Fortis Hospital, New Delhi, who conduted the study in collaboration with Centre for Diabetes, Obesity, and Cholosterol Disorders(C-DOC), Diabetes Foundation and Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

The problem is particularly severe in children and young individuals -a high intake of n-6PUFA(mostly in fats) is correlated with glucose intolerence - whereas in adults, a high-carbohydrate meal consumption was reported to cause insulin resistance. Dietary supplements with n-3 PUFA lead to an improved lipid profile but not insulin sensitivity. Inadequate maternal nuitrition during pregnancy, low birth weight and childhood 'Catch-up' obesity may be important for the devolopment of the metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Even among the rural population, which usually consumes a traditional frugal diet, there is an increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the metabolic syndrome due to changes in diets and lifestyle.

Source- The Indian Express