High-fibre diets may slightly reduce calcium levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a report in the June 2009 issue of Diabetes Care.
In this new sudy conducted at the clinical research center of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, a team of researchers compared the effects of a 6-week high-fibre diet and a 6-week moderate-fibre diet on calcium absorption and metabolism in 13 patients with type 2 diabetes.
Calcium levels in the urine and, to a lesser extent, the blood were significantly reduced in subjects given the high-fibre diet as calcium absorption in the intestines was slightly reduced.
Calcium levels in the blood are "very tightly regulated so even a slight decline due to a high-fibre diet suggests that the impact of fibre on calcium absorption is significant," said the lead researcher.
On the other hand, eating plenty of fibre can help improve blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. But, as these findings show, it's also important that the diet is rich in low-fat sources of calcium like skim milk, soy milk or non-fat yogurt or cottage cheese.
These nutrition researchers add that people who don't eat foods that are high in calcium on regular basis may need to take calcium supplements.
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