Dairy products protect us from diabetes and hypertension

Table of contents:

Dairy products protect us from diabetes and hypertension
Dairy products protect us from diabetes and hypertension
Anonim

A study involving almost 150,000 participants from around the world has found that a higher intake of dairy products, especially high-fat dairy products, is associated with a lower risk of high blood pressure and diabetes. medicalnewstoday.com.

The rate of spread of type 2 diabetes and hypertension has increased rapidly in recent decades in the so-called developed countries around the world.

Experts estimate that about 34 million people in the US currently have diabetes, and nearly half of the adult population has hypertension. Therefore, he alth professionals have invested time and money in research to help understand how to prevent these diseases. Since an unhe althy diet is a significant risk factor for these two problems, dietary modification appears to be a promising approach.

Dairy products are the subject of particular interest because research shows that their consumption is associated with maintaining lower blood pressure. Studies also show that consuming more dairy products also leads to a lower risk of diabetes. However, most of these studies only included participants from Europe and North America, which limited the general validity of the findings.

Now a large international study of data from almost 150,000 people has found that a higher intake of dairy products is associated with a lower risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure. The study also concluded that increased consumption of dairy fat was associated with lower rates of developing metabolic syndrome, a group of symptoms that increase the risk of heart disease. The results are published in the journal BMJ.

International reach

The investigation included data from 147,812 people from 21 countries spanning Asia, North and South America, Africa and Europe. The participants were from 35 to 70 years old. The researchers monitored the participants' food intake for more than a year using questionnaires.

Respondents recorded the number of times they consumed specific items from a list with an average follow-up of 9 years. Among the dairy products on the list were fresh milk, yogurt, cheese and dishes made with dairy products.

The researchers did not include data on butter and cream intake in the overall analysis because they were not common in many of the areas where the participants lived. However, the team evaluated the associations between intake of these products and he alth outcomes separately.

Dairy products were classified as full fat, low fat, and skim milk. The scientists also looked at information about each participant, such as medical history, prescriptions, education, blood pressure, waist circumference, glucose and blood fat levels. The latter measurements were important in determining whether a person had metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.

At least 2 daily servings

The results of the study showed that, on average, people eat 179 grams of dairy products every day. That's a little less than a glass of fresh milk or yogurt a day, each measuring 244 grams. People in Europe, North and South America consume more dairy products on average than those in Asia and Africa.

Residents in Europe and North America also tend to eat more low-fat dairy products, while those in other regions consume more high-fat foods. Consuming only low-fat dairy products was not associated with a reduced risk of metabolic syndrome.

Oil intake is also associated with a lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome, but its consumption is very low, averaging 3 grams per day. Therefore, the available data related to the he alth effects of the oil are limited.

Low-fat products are not always he althier

Intake of at least 2 servings per day of any dairy product is associated with an 11-12% lower risk of diabetes and high blood pressure. Summarizing the results, study co-author Andrew Ment, PhD, a population he alth assessor in Hamilton, Ont., says, Higher intake of dairy foods, such as fresh, yogurt and cheese, especially full-fat dairy rather than low-fat, is associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and a lower risk of developing hypertension and diabetes.

Dairy foods and the fats they contain provide high-quality protein and a wide range of essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, phosphorus and vitamins A, B12 and riboflavin.

Although it is not yet clear how dairy products may protect against the he alth problems in question, the researchers hope to confirm their findings with large, long-term trials.

If their findings are confirmed, the researchers say that increasing dairy consumption could be a "feasible and low-cost approach" to reducing the global prevalence of metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Recommended: