Too Many Animal Proteins Linked To Diabetes?

According to a new study of European adults, those who eat the most protein, especially from animal sources, are more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
The new study compared the diets of those who developed diabetes and those who did not have the disease. Better results may have been gathered by randomly assigning participants to eat varying amounts of protein.
The findings however do coincide with previous studies.
"Several previous studies have found that higher intake of total protein, especially animal protein, as associated with long-term risk of developing diabetes," said Dr. Frank Hu of of Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. Hu was not associated with the new study, which researched prevention of diabetes through diet and lifestyle.
Researchers examined data from a large study comprising eight European countries over 12 years. The study included information such as diet, physical activity, height, weight, and waist circumference. Researchers followed that data to see who developed diabetes.
The research team was led by Monique van Nielen of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, who selected 11,000 people with diabetes and 15,000 people without diabetes.
Typically study participants ate 90 grams of protein per day. Those ate more animal proteins had a higher weight-to-height ratio and ate more fiber and cholesterol than those who ate less.
For every additional 10 grams of protein participants ate every day was linked to a six percent increased risk for developing diabetes.
Participants were divided into five groups based on the amount of protein they ate each day and researchers found that those who ate the most protein per day, 111 grams, were 17 percent more likely to develop diabetes than the group that ate the less, 72 grams.
Those who ate the most animal protein, 78 grams per day, had a 22 percent greater chance of developing diabetes than those who ate the least, 36 grams.
This association was the highest among obese women. Plant proteins however, were not linked to diabetes.
"In other studies, plant protein sources such as nuts, legumes, and whole grains have been associated with lower risk of diabetes," Hu said. "Therefore, replacing red meat and processed meat with plant sources of protein is important for diabetes prevention."
However, it's just as important to pay attention to quantity as it is the type of protein.
"Pay attention to both quantity and food sources of protein," Hu said. Those with a family history of diabetes should limit red meat consumption and replace it instead with nuts, legumes, or whole grains.
Reference: Reuter
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