Dairy products protect us against diabetes
Dairy products are generally recommended for their rich calcium content, and therefore for their role in protecting and strengthening bones. But according to a recent study (1) , American, the intake of dairy saturated fatty acids would also protect us against diabetes .
Rappel
Saturated fatty acids are mainly found in milk, cheese, meat, butter, but also in coconut and palm oil (2) .
There are many saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, margaric acid, or even lauric acid. They are, for the most part, solid at room temperature.
The study
The study on the subject is a meta-analysis published on August 6, 2014 in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. It was carried out by researchers from the universities of Cambridge and Oxford, the MRC Human Nutrition Research (Cambridge), as well as other European universities. It focused on the relationship between different fatty acids and their impact on type 2 diabetes at high levels.
The study took blood samples from 12,132 people who had developed type 2 diabetes, and compared them to samples from 15,164 healthy people, aged 52 on average.
The results
The study revealed that high levels of fatty acids, depending on their type, are associated with very different levels of risk for diabetes.
Indeed, high levels of saturated fatty acids are associated with a 43% increased risk of type 2 diabetes, especially in the elderly, men, and even more in cases of high BMI ( Body Mass Index ). These elevated levels are especially common on a diet high in alcohol, margarine, and potatoes.
On the other hand, the so-called “odd carbon chain” fatty acids, mainly from milk fat , would be responsible for a reduction in type 2 diabetes. High levels of saturated dairy fatty acids would rather be found in people with low BMI and women. This would correspond to diets rich in dairy products, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, cookies and cakes.
This is therefore an association with other ingredients than dairy products, and these other ingredients could be at the origin of this protective effect on type 2 diabetes.
The study is therefore currently awaiting clarification. However, it suggests that not all fatty acids are necessarily harmful to health. Indeed, depending on the type, they would have a different influence on the risk of diabetes.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.