Secular Trends in Dietary Intake over a 20-Year Period in People with Type 2 Diabetes in Japan: A Comparative Study of Two Nationwide Registries; Japan Diabetes Complications Study (JDCS) and Japan Diabetes Clinical Data Management Study (JDDM).

BACKGROUND

In order to provide effective dietary guidance, it is necessary to consider dietary intake, which can change over time. This study analyzed changes in the diet of Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes over a 20-year period.

METHODS

We compared the results of two dietary surveys that used the food frequency questionnaire format. The first was conducted in 1996 by the Japan Diabetes Complications Study (JDCS) ( = 1509; males 53.3%), and the second in 2014-2018 by the Japan Diabetes Clinical Data Management Study (JDDM) ( = 1145; males 65.6%). Both are nationwide representative registries of outpatients with type 2 diabetes in Japan.

RESULTS

Over a 20-year period, both men and women with type 2 diabetes had a significant increase in body mass index (BMI). Nonetheless, there was only a small change in energy intake. Conversely, there was a significant increase in fat intake and thus in the fat-to-energy ratio. With regard to food groups, there was a significant increase in meat intake and a decrease in the intake of fish, soybeans/soy products, vegetables, and fruits, with a particularly significant decrease in vegetables.

CONCLUSIONS

Even in Japan, an industrialized country with a stable socioeconomic environment, there were many significant changes in the dietary intake of patients with type 2 diabetes over the 20-year period.