People who eat more leafy greens like spinach and kale tend to have a lower chance of getting type 2 diabetes, according to studies tracking thousands of adults over many years.

Scientific Claim

Higher intake of green leafy vegetables is associated with a 14% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and older adults, based on pooled data from four prospective cohort studies involving 169,807 participants with 7,422 incident cases, suggesting a potential dietary factor worth further investigation.

Original Statement

“Summary estimates showed that consuming 1.35 servings a day of green leafy vegetables (highest intake) compared with 0.2 servings (lowest intake) resulted in a 14% reduction in risk (P=0.01) of type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio 0.86, 95% confidence interval 0.77 to 0.97).”

From study:Fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

overstated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study design (observational cohort meta-analysis) cannot establish causation. The conclusion uses 'could significantly reduce', implying causality, which is unsupported. The data only show association.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

This study found that people who ate more spinach, kale, and other leafy greens had a 14% lower chance of getting type 2 diabetes, and this was the only type of food among fruits and veggies that made a difference.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis

Score: 39

DOI: 10.1136/bmj.c4229

Similar Assertions

Even when researchers looked at different groups of people, different ways of measuring diet, or different countries, eating more leafy greens still seemed to be linked to lower diabetes risk, which makes the finding more reliable.

90%

Eating more vegetables like carrots or broccoli doesn't appear to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a review of five large studies tracking thousands of adults over many years.

89%

Leafy greens might help prevent diabetes because they contain good nutrients like magnesium and antioxidants that help your body use insulin better and fight cell damage.

85%

Eating more fruit and vegetables together doesn't seem to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a review of four large studies tracking thousands of adults over many years.

82%

The benefit of eating more fruits and vegetables for preventing diabetes is less strong in older people than in younger ones, possibly because aging changes how the body responds to nutrients.

80%