A diet high in meat, particularly processed and unprocessed red meat, may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study from the University of Cambridge.
Analysing data from almost two million people who took part in 31 studies in 20 countries, the researchers found that eating 50 grams of processed meat per day – the equivalent of two slices of ham or bacon, or one small sausage – was associated with a 15% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next 10 years, according to a university press release.
Eating 100 grams of unprocessed red meat a day (about one small steak) increases your risk by 10%.
New study finds baked potatoes may benefit adults with diabetes from heart health benefits
The results of this study were published in the journal The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.
Initially, the study showed that eating 100 grams of chicken was associated with an 8% increased risk of type 2 diabetes, but the association weakened when different scenarios were tested, suggesting that further research was needed.
A diet high in meat, particularly processed and unprocessed red meat, may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a new study from the University of Cambridge. (iStock)
“Our findings provide the largest and most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between meat consumption and a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” lead author Dr Chunxiao Li, from the Medical Research Council’s (MRC) Epidemiology Division at the University of Cambridge, said in an email to Fox News Digital.
Pop singer Lance Bass has type 1.5 diabetes. Here’s what you need to know about the disease
“The association between processed meat and red meat consumption and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is strong and consistent across populations in different regions and countries around the world.”
Lee said the researchers took into account a wide range of factors in their analysis, including age, sex, health-related behaviours (such as smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity), energy intake, weight, waist circumference, family history of diabetes and other foods consumed.
According to registered dietitians, deli and canned meats can contain 500 to 1,500 mg of sodium per serving. (iStock)
This study follows several previous studies that suggested this link.
“It was important to expand our study to include underrepresented populations outside of North America and Europe, where research has traditionally been focused,” Lee said.
“Examples of observational studies”
Ken D. Berry, MD, a board-certified family physician practicing in rural Tennessee, disagrees with the premise that meat consumption increases the risk of diabetes.
“This is an example of an observational study,” Berry, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital in an email.
“By its very nature, it can never prove that one event causes another,” he continued. “All this kind of study can do is report possible associations between one event and another.”
Pop singer Lance Bass has type 1.5 diabetes. Here’s what you need to know about the disease
People who eat a lot of meat may also be inclined to eat less of other foods known to promote health and reduce disease risk, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes, said Sophie Lorber, a Baltimore-based registered dietitian at Aeroflow Diabetes, which helps people with diabetes get the supplies they need.
“All this kind of study can do is report a possible association between one thing and another.”
“Meat is also a source of saturated fat, and a diet high in fat has been linked to insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes,” Lorber, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
According to Loeber, meat eaters may also be eating large amounts of meat.
Some nutritionists recommend prioritizing plant-based foods over a diet high in meat and animal products. (iStock)
“In this diet, meat tends to be the centerpiece of the plate, rather than foods that are lower in calories, higher in fiber and rich in natural plant compounds,” she said.
“We are also learning about the importance of a diverse microbiome in preventing obesity and diabetes, which is achieved by eating a diverse diet rich in plant foods.”
Study finds that diabetes patients who use drugs like Ozempic instead of insulin have lower cancer risk
Tanya Freilich, a registered dietitian and Lupus Nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina, warned that eating processed meats can cause inflammation, and consuming too much saturated fat can increase insulin resistance.
“Processed meats can contain up to a significant portion of your daily recommended intake of sodium per serving,” said Freilich, who was also not involved in the study.
“For example, deli meats and canned meats can contain 500 to 1,500 mg of sodium per serving.”
Potential limitations
The data used to measure how much food people ate was based mainly on one-off surveys, Lee noted.
“Previous studies have shown that measuring food intake multiple times tends to be less accurate than measuring it just once, weakening the association with health risks,” she told Fox News Digital.
Researchers claim that eating 100 grams of unprocessed red meat a day – about the amount of a small steak – increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by 10%. (iStock)
“Thus, our findings indicate that there is an association between meat consumption and the development of type 2 diabetes, but the actual association may be stronger than we found.”
Berry agreed that the survey’s format was a major limitation.
“This type of research is based on a multiple-choice test called a ‘food frequency questionnaire’ that is administered to study participants,” he said.
Ask the doctor: “Why do we continue to eat foods that we know are bad for us?”
“Participants often answer these questions every few years, as if they were trying to remember what they ate two years ago, or even longer.”
Although the researchers significantly increased the geographic diversity of study locations compared with previous studies, Li noted that data from some regions, such as Africa, is still limited.
Researchers found that eating 50 grams of processed meat a day (the equivalent of one hot dog) was associated with a 15% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next 10 years. (iStock)
“This reflects an important knowledge gap and highlights the need for further research in these regions,” she said.
Freilich reiterated the fact that the study was observational and only looked at associations, that is, two factors that are increasing or decreasing in the same direction.
“You can’t say definitively that one causes the other,” she told Fox News Digital.
The World Health Organization recommends consuming the equivalent of about 12 to 18 ounces of cooked red meat no more than three times each week.
“Observational studies don’t look at the whole picture for individuals; researchers only look at two factors: type of protein intake and risk of type 2 diabetes,” Freilich continued.
“We don’t understand or evaluate the rest of people’s diets, such as how many vegetables they’re eating or how much exercise they’re getting.”
What do you recommend?
“Our study supports current dietary guidelines that recommend reducing intake of processed and unprocessed red meat to reduce disease burden,” Lee said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has previously classified processed meat and red meat as carcinogenic to humans, and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AIRC) has similarly recommended avoiding processed meat.
The World Health Organization previously classified processed meat and red meat as possibly carcinogenic to humans. (iStock)
“When it comes to processed meat, the WHO advises there is no safe consumption limit and it is best to avoid or minimise consumption,” Lee said.
“For red meat, the WHO recommends consuming no more than three servings each week, or the equivalent of about 350-500 grams (about 12-18 ounces) of cooked red meat.”
Berry disagrees, recommending we continue to eat nutritious, healthy red meat “just as our ancestors have done for over a million years”.
Click here to get the FOX News app
“There is a group of nutrition researchers who believe in a plant-based diet and they are touting studies like this to promote this diet,” he said.
“People who are not educated about the research findings will read the headlines and stop eating nutritious, very healthy, ancestral foods.”
Click here to sign up for our Health Newsletter
Meanwhile, Lorber recommends prioritizing plant-based foods over a diet high in meat and animal products.
“Plant-based foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds,” she told Fox News Digital.
“We don’t understand or evaluate the rest of people’s diets, such as how many vegetables they’re eating or how much exercise they’re getting.”
“These whole foods are low in calories, nutrient dense, minimally processed, high in dietary fiber and foster an environment for a diverse microbiome.”
Freilich recommends thinking about your overall diet and lifestyle, including your medical history.
For more health stories, visit www.foxnews.com/health
“All medical decisions and choices about diet should be individualized,” she says. “What works for you may not be appropriate for your neighbor.”
Experts agreed that people should speak with their health care provider and get personalized advice.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for comment.
