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5h ago

ICMR Study Links Carb-Heavy Indian Diets to Higher Diabetes Risk

Researchers report that swapping 5% of daily calories from carbohydrates for plant or dairy protein is associated with lower odds of diabetes and prediabetes.

White rice dominates diets in the southern, eastern and northeastern parts of the country while wheat is more common in the northern and central parts (Shutterstock)
Indians Get 62 Percent of Calories from Low-Quality Carbohydrates

Overview

  • The Nature Medicine paper analyzes nationally representative data from 121,077 adults across 36 states and union territories in the ICMR-INDIAB survey.
  • Indians obtain about 62% of calories from carbohydrates, largely from white rice, milled grains, and added sugar, while protein averages only 12% of energy.
  • Modelled substitution suggests replacing a small share of carbohydrate calories with plant or dairy proteins lowers metabolic risk, whereas swapping with red meat protein or fats does not show the same benefit.
  • Average total fat meets national guidelines, but saturated fat exceeds the <7% energy threshold in all but four states, and at least 21 states surpass the <5% energy recommendation for added sugar.
  • Authors urge policy changes on food subsidies and public messaging to promote pulses, legumes and dairy protein and to cut reliance on refined cereals and saturated fats.