The association of TV viewing time with 2-hour plasma glucose is modified by a prudent dietary pattern.

BACKGROUND

TV viewing is associated with elevated plasma glucose, but it is not clear whether such associations can be modified by dietary patterns.

METHODS

We examined the interactions of TV viewing time and dietary patterns in relation to fasting and 2-hour plasma glucose. Cross-sectional analyses were performed among participants (N = 3081; 44.7% male; mean age 57.8 years) from the 2011 to 2012 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab) without clinically diagnosed diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Factor analysis (principal component) was conducted to identify dietary patterns. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine distinct associations of TV viewing time and dietary patterns with fasting and 2-hour plasma glucose. Dichotomous TV viewing time (low: ≤ 2 h/d vs high: >2 h/d) and quartiles of dietary patterns were further combined to examine the joint associations with plasma glucose.

RESULTS

Three dietary patterns were identified: prudent, Western, and mixed. TV viewing time was positively associated (β = .01, P < .05) and the prudent dietary pattern was inversely associated (β = -.03, P < .05) with log transformed 2-hour plasma glucose. Compared with participants with high TV viewing/lowest prudent dietary pattern, participants with low TV viewing/highest prudent diet had the lowest 2-hour plasma glucose (β = -.05, P = .028). No interactions were found between TV viewing time and the Western dietary pattern, nor the mixed dietary pattern, in relation to either fasting or 2-hour plasma glucose.

CONCLUSIONS

Following a prudent dietary pattern may attenuate the adverse effect of TV viewing on 2-hour plasma glucose. Prospective studies and intervention trials are needed to further clarify these relationships.