Greater insulin response to acute fructose ingestion among Māori and Pacific people compared to European people living in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Abstract

Fructose consumption has been linked with insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes, which are more prevalent in those of Māori or Pacific ethnicity compared to New Zealand European. To determine whether the acute effects of fructose consumption on serum glucose, insulin, lipids and C-reactive protein differs according to body mass index (BMI) and/or ethnicity. Participants of Māori (n = 25), Pacific (n = 26) or New Zealand European (n = 25) ethnicity consumed a 64 g fructose/16 g glucose solution. Changes in lipids, glucose, insulin and C-reactive protein were analysed using mixed models for repeated measures. After adjustment for age and gender, those with higher BMI had a higher glucose (P = 0.0064) and insulin (P = 0.0007) response than those with lower BMI. Those of Māori or Pacific ethnicity had similar glucose levels (P = 0.077) to those of New Zealand European ethnicity but higher insulin responses (P = 0.0005), which remained after additional adjustment for BMI (P = 0.001). Reported sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) intake was higher among Māori and Pacific than New Zealand European (median 1.0 vs 0.0 SSB/day P = 0.002). Even after adjustment for BMI, those of Māori and Pacific ethnicity have a significantly higher insulin response to fructose than New Zealand Europeans. Higher habitual SSB intake may be a contributing factor.