Issue 97 Item 8 Processed Meats Increases Diabetes Risk

Eat Meat 5 times a week increases risk of developing type 2 diabetes. >Eating a diet high in processed meats increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in men, according to research published in Diabetes Care.

The researchers followed 42,504 US male participants of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study aged 40-75 years. The participants were free of diagnosed diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer at the beginning of the study. Diet was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire. During 12 years of follow-up, 1,321 cases of type 2 diabetes were diagnosed.

The frequent consumption of processed meats two to four times a week had a 35% increased risk of diabetes, and those who ate processed meat five times or more a week had a 46% increased risk of diabetes. Men with diets rich in linoleic acid were 26% less likely to develop diabetes. Reference:Van Dam RM et al. Dietary fat and meat intake in relation to risk of type 2 diabetes in men. Diabetes Care 2002; 25: 417-24.