Diet rich in animal protein increases the risk of diabetes

April 16, 2014  17:53

People who eat too much protein from animal sources have increased risk of development of type 2 diabetes, showed the study among European adults.

The new study did not randomly assign participants to eat different amounts of protein, which would have yielded the strongest evidence. Instead, it compared the diets of people who went on to develop diabetes and those who did not get the disease, reported Fox News.

For the new report, researchers examined data from a large previous study of adults in eight European countries spanning 12 years. The study collected data on participants' diet, physical activity, height, weight and waist circumference, then followed them to see who developed diabetes.

Specifically, those who ate the most animal protein, or 78 grams per day, were 22 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those who ate the least, around 36 grams per day, according to results published in Diabetes Care.

"More importantly, higher intake of animal protein often comes along with other undesirable nutrients such as saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium," said Dr. Frank Hu, from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston..

The association between animal protein and diabetes risk appeared to be strongest among obese women.

Plant protein, on the other hand, was not linked to diabetes.

"As a general rule, I would suggest to eat normal portions of red meat not more than two times per week, poultry and fish three to four times per week, skimmed milk or yogurt maybe not every day," said Paolo Magni, from the Institute of Endocrinology at the University of Milan in Italy.

Cheese, preserved meats and cold cuts should be minimized, he said.

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