According to a new study from Cambridge University, daily consumption of red and processed meat may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.
As Knewz.com has learned, the study found that eating two slices of ham daily can increase the risk by up to 15%.
Eating about 100 grams of unprocessed red meat daily, which is equivalent to a small steak, can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by 10%, according to the study.
The study, led by the University of Cambridge and published in the journal Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinologyanalyzed data from nearly two million participants from 31 study groups around the world.
It was reported that the analysis took into account factors such as age, gender, health-related behavior, energy intake and body mass index.
A press release from the University of Cambridge states that while previous research has “suggested that higher consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes,” the results have been “variable and inconclusive.”
The press release goes on to say that there have not been many studies examining the link between poultry and diabetes risk, even though chicken, turkey, duck, etc. are often touted as an alternative to red meat.
Recent research shows that “regular consumption” of poultry – chicken, turkey or duck – is associated with an 8% higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
“However, when further analyses were conducted to test the results under different scenarios, the association with poultry consumption weakened, while the associations with type 2 diabetes remained for both processed and unprocessed meat,” the press release said.
Professor Nita Forouhi of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Department of Epidemiology at the University of Cambridge, one of the study’s lead authors, commented on the study’s findings:
“Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher future risk of type 2 diabetes. It supports recommendations to limit consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat to reduce cases of type 2 diabetes in the population.”
“Although our results provide more comprehensive evidence of the association between poultry consumption and type 2 diabetes than previously available, the association remains uncertain and needs further investigation.”
Professor Nick Wareham, Director of the MRC Division of Epidemiology and lead author of the article, said:
“Most research studies on meat and type 2 diabetes have been conducted in the United States and Europe, with some in East Asia. This research included additional studies from the Middle East, Latin America and South Asia, highlighting the need for investment in research in these regions and in Africa.”
Dr Chunxiao Li, also from the MRC’s Department of Epidemiology, commented on the research, saying:
“A previous meta-analysis compiled previously published results from studies on the association between meat consumption and type 2 diabetes, but our analysis examined data from individual participants in each study.”
“This enabled us to harmonize important data collected across studies, such as information on meat consumption or the development of type 2 diabetes.”
“Using harmonized data also meant that we could more easily take into account different factors, such as lifestyle or health behaviors, that may influence the association between meat consumption and diabetes,” Dr. Li added.
Samyarup Chowdhury Samyarup Chowdhury is a writer and reporter for Knewz.com covering breaking news.
