Increased incidence of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus among Japanese schoolchildren correlates with an increased intake of animal protein and fat.

Non-insulin dependent diabetes (NIDDM) was diagnosed in 188 of more than 7 million Tokyo schoolchildren tested between 1974 and 1994 for glycosuria followed by oral glucose tolerance testing. The incidence rate of NIDDM in youth has continued to increase since 1976. While the daily energy intake has not changed significantly, the consumption of animal protein and fat by the Japanese population has greatly increased during the past two decades, and this change in diet, with low levels of physical activity, may exacerbate insulin resistance and glucose intolerance.