A large study just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds a strong link between eating red meat and increased risk for type 2 diabetes. The link is even stronger for processed red meat -- each 2 oz serving per day, as a long-term habit, increases one's risk 51%!
Laurie Barclay, MD, of Medscape Medical News reports, Processed Red Meat Intake Linked to Type 2 Diabetes Risk.
August 11, 2011 — Red meat intake, particularly processed red meat, is linked to a risk for type 2 diabetes, according to the results of an updated meta-analysis of 3 large US cohorts reported online August 10 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The study cohorts consisted of 37,083 male participants in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study from 1986 to 2006, 79,570 female participants in the Nurses' Health Study I from 1980 to 2008, and 87,504 female participants in the Nurses' Health Study II from 1991 to 2005.
"Our results suggest that red meat consumption, particularly processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of T2D," the study authors write. "We estimated that substitutions of one serving of nuts, low-fat dairy, and whole grains per day for one serving of red meat per day were associated with a 16–35% lower risk of T2D."
"[F]rom a public health point of view, reduction of red meat consumption, particularly processed red meat, and replacement of it with other healthy dietary components, should be considered to decrease T2D risk," the study authors conclude.
Meredith Melnick, of Time Magazine reports on the same study in Study: Red and Processed Meats Linked to Type Diabetes
After adjusting for contributing risk factors like age, weight, exercise habits, smoking, genetic predispositions and other dietary factors, the researchers found a strong association between eating red meat, particularly processed meat, and risk of Type 2 diabetes.
• Each 2-oz. serving of processed meat, including hot dogs, bacon, salami and other cold cuts, per day accounted for a 51% increase in diabetes risk
• A 3.5-oz. serving of unprocessed red meat, such as hamburger, steak, pork or lamb, per day was linked to a 19% increase in risk of diabetes
• Replacing one serving per day of red and processed meats with healthier options, such as nuts, whole grains and low-fat dairy, accounted for a 16% to 35% reduction in diabetes risk
The researchers weren't sure exactly why red meat may contribute to diabetes risk, but senior author Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), hypothesized that the high amount of heme iron in red meat could be responsible; iron helps prevent anemia, but the Western diet contains an iron overload, and high levels of iron in the body have been associated with Type 2 diabetes.
Do chicken and turkey have higher iron as well?
Other studies indicate men should not take vitamins high in iron made for woman due to an increase in risk for heart disease.
This is sort of discouraging for those of use struggling with all the changes in diet, exercise, and testing involved in being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
I started taking metformin in spring which has brought down my blood sugar levels, so I figured I could pretty much ignore all these diet, drinking, and exercise constraints.
Earlier this week I read a study saying that just reducing blood sugar with meds doesn't reduce all the other risks like stroke, heart attack, amputation, etc.
Sheesh!
Take care of your Kossacks.
Click here for Abstract of Original Study: Am J Clin Nutr. Published online August 10, 2011