A population-based prospective study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine (2006; 259(6):583–591) examined the relationship between physical activity, saturated fat intake, and mortality in individuals with diabetes.
The study included 1,013 participants who were receiving medication for diabetes. Dietary intake was assessed using a food-frequency questionnaire, and levels of physical activity were recorded. Participants were followed for a total of 4,579 person-years.
During the follow-up period, 80 deaths were recorded, of which 46 were attributed to cardiovascular causes. The researchers found that physical activity was inversely associated with mortality, meaning that higher levels of activity were linked with lower risk of death. In contrast, higher intake of saturated fat was associated with an increased risk of mortality.
The authors reported that both lifestyle factors—physical activity and dietary fat composition—were independently associated with outcomes in this population of treated diabetic patients.
