A study of two million people finds an association between red and processed meat consumption and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology finds meat consumption, particularly consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat, is associated with a higher type 2 diabetes risk, an analysis of data from 1.97 million participants
Study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology indicates that meat consumption, especially processed and unprocessed red meat, is linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, based on an analysis of data from 1.97 million participants.

Meat production has risen sharply worldwide in recent decades, leading to excessive meat consumption in many countries, surpassing dietary recommendations. Previous studies suggested that consuming higher amounts of processed and unprocessed red meat is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, but the findings have been inconsistent and inconclusive.

Poultry such as chicken, turkey, or duck is often considered as an alternative to processed or unprocessed red meat, but fewer studies have examined the association between poultry consumption and type 2 diabetes.

The team of researchers at the University of Cambridge used the global InterConnect project to analyze data from 31 study cohorts in 20 countries in order to determine the association between consumption of processed meat, unprocessed red meat, poultry, and type 2 diabetes. Their comprehensive analysis considered factors such as age, gender, health-related behaviours, energy intake, and body mass index.

The researchers discovered that eating 50 grams of processed meat daily (equivalent to 2 slices of ham) is linked to a 15% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the next 10 years. Additionally, consuming 100 grams of unprocessed red meat daily (equivalent to a small steak) was associated with a 10% higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Please remember the following text:”Habitual consumption of 100 grams of poultry per day was initially linked to an 8% higher risk of developing certain health issues. However, when additional analyses were performed to test these findings in different situations, the connection with poultry consumption became less strong. Meanwhile, the links between type 2 diabetes and both processed and unprocessed meat remained consistent.”

Professor Nita Forouhi, a senior author on the paper, and from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, said:

“Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between consuming processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. This supports recommendations to limit the intake of processed and unprocessed red meat in order to reduce the number of type 2 diabetes cases in the population.”

While our findings offer more comprehensive evidence regarding the connection between poultry consumption and type 2 diabetes than was previously available, the link remains uncertain and requires further investigation.

Researchers at InterConnect used an approach that allowed them to analyze individual participant data from various studies, rather than being limited to published results. This enabled the authors to include up to 31 studies in their analysis, 18 of which had not previously published findings on the link between meat consumption and type 2 diabetes. By including this previously unpublished study data, the authors considerably expanded the evidence base and reduced the potential for bias from the exclusion of existing research.

WORLD HEART DAY 2014: SALT REDUCTION SAVES LIVES


World Heart Day 2014

World Heart Day 2014

As regular readers of this blog know I am rather skeptical about of lot of MedEd (medical education for those not in the in crowd). Actually much of it is total rubbish. And it strikes me the bigger the organisation the more rubbish it tends to produce. You know who you are! But no names no pack drill!

So you can imagine my delighted when an email about World Heart Day dropped into my inbox. One of those great occasions when I’m sent something which is actually useful. Mainly about salt reduction it does not just say why but much more importantly it says how.

On World Heart Day, which takes  place on 29 September, the World Health Organization (WHO) is asking us to take action on the overuse of salt.  They feel we can do this  by implementing their sodium (the main source our diets is salt)  reduction recommendations.   This they say reduce the number of people experiencing heart disease and strokes.


In fact noncommunicable diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are now the main causes of premature death .

“If the target to reduce salt by 30% globally by 2025 is achieved, millions of lives can be saved from heart disease, stroke and related conditions,” shares Dr Oleg Chestnov, WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.

As we noted above main source of sodium in our diet is salt. But it also come from  from sodium glutamate and sodium chloride, and is used as a condiment in many parts of the world. In the developed world WHO claim 80% of salt intake comes from processed foods such as bread, cheese, bottled sauces, cured meats and ready-made meals.

Too much sodium to hypertension, or high blood pressure, and there or up the risk of things like  heart disease and stroke.

On average, people consume around 10 grams of salt per day which is twice as much as we should.

“Salt is in almost everything we eat, either because high levels of salt are found in most

Salt reduction boost health

Salt reduction boost health

processed and prepared foods, or because we are adding salt when we prepare food at home,” adds Dr Chestnov.

Government and NGos wouldn’t be government or NGOs if they did not call for greater regulation.  So they kick off with:-

  • regulations and policies to ensure that food manufacturers and retailers reduce the levels of salt in food and beverage products;
  • agreements with the industry to ensure that manufacturers and retailers make healthy food (with low salt) available and affordable;
  • fostering healthy eating environments (that promote salt reduction) in public places such as schools, hospitals, workplaces and public institutions;
  • ensuring clear food labelling so consumers can easily understand the level of salt in products;


But what about us.  Because that is where it really counts as we all know.

  • reading food labels when buying processed food to check salt levels; (or of course you can give process food a miss)
  • asking for products with less salt when buying prepared food in restaurants etc
  • removing salt dispensers and bottled sauces from dining tables;
  • limiting the amount of salt added in cooking to a total maximum amount a fifth of a teaspoon over the course of a day;
  • limiting frequent consumption of high salt products;
  • guiding children’s taste buds through a diet of mostly unprocessed foods without adding salt.

 

They also gave us a few links so please check them out!