Relationships between Urine Albumin Excretion and Dietary Habits in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

<jats:p>Background: The dietary factors and nutrients contributing to the prevention of microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic nephropathy is unclear, so we investigated dietary factors affecting urinary albumin excretion in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: 42 patients with type 2 diabetes were participated, the subjects were divided to a normal albuminuria group (urinary albumin / creatinine ratio of less than 30 mg / g Cr) and a microalbuminuria group of 30 mg / g to 299 mg / g Cr. We performed casual blood sampling and conducted a food frequency questionnaire survey. Results: There were no significant differences in age, BMI and other physiological and biochemical data, the average daily intake of energy and many of nutrients, while &beta;-cryptoxanthin was significantly lower in the microalbuminuria group than in the normal group (506.4 &plusmn; 793.9 &mu;g/day vs. 715.3 &plusmn; 500.3 &mu;g/day, p &lt;0.05). The intake of 17 food groups per day showed that the intakes of fruits were significantly lower in the microalbuminuria group than in the normal group (76.9 &plusmn; 134.1 g vs. 111.9 &plusmn; 84.5 g, p &lt;0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that fruits and foods rich in &beta;-cryptoxanthin would make it possible to prevent diabetic nephropathy progression.</jats:p>