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Regularly eating processed meat - and unprocessed red meat - increases diabetes risk, say University of Cambridge researchers

07:45, 29 August 2024

Consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat are particularly associated with a higher type 2 diabetes risk, according to University of Cambridge-led analysis of data from almost two million people.

They found that the habitual consumption of 50g of processed meat a day, which is equivalent to 2 slices of ham, is associated with a 15 per cent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next 10 years.

Eating unprocessed red meat regularly is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, researchers say
Eating unprocessed red meat regularly is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, researchers say

And the consumption of 100g of unprocessed red meat a day, which is equivalent to a small steak, was associated with a 10 per cent higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Earlier research has also suggested a connection, but the results were variable and not conclusive.

Fewer studies, meanwhile, have examined the association between poultry consumption and type 2 diabetes, so the team of researchers also explored that.

They found habitual consumption of 100g of poultry a day was associated with an 8 per cent higher risk, but further analyses to test the findings under different scenarios made the association for poultry consumption weaker, whereas the associations with type 2 diabetes for both processed meat and unprocessed meat persisted.

Prof Nita Forouhi, of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, and a senior author on the paper, said: “Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between eating processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher future risk of type 2 diabetes. It supports recommendations to limit the consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat to reduce type 2 diabetes cases in the population.

“While our findings provide more comprehensive evidence on the association between poultry consumption and type 2 diabetes than was previously available, the link remains uncertain and needs to be investigated further.”

The researchers used the global InterConnect project to analyse data from 31 study cohorts in 20 countries. Their extensive analysis took into account factors such as age, gender, health-related behaviours, energy intake and body mass index.

Eating processed meat, like ham, on a daily basis could raise your risk of type 2 diabetes
Eating processed meat, like ham, on a daily basis could raise your risk of type 2 diabetes

InterConnect enables researchers to analyse individual participant data from diverse studies, rather than limiting them to the published results.

That meant they were able to include 18 studies which had not previously published findings on the link between meat consumption and type 2 diabetes, expanding the evidence base and reducing the potential for bias.

Lead author Dr Chunxiao Li, also of the MRC Epidemiology Unit, said: “Previous meta-analysis involved pooling together of already published results from studies on the link between meat consumption and type 2 diabetes, but our analysis examined data from individual participants in each study. This meant that we could harmonise the key data collected across studies, such as the meat intake information and the development of type 2 diabetes.

“Using harmonised data also meant we could more easily account for different factors, such as lifestyle or health behaviours, that may affect the association between meat consumption and diabetes.”

Professor Nick Wareham, Director of the MRC Epidemiology Unit, and a senior author on the paper said: “InterConnect enables us to study the risk factors for obesity and type 2 diabetes across populations in many different countries and continents around the world, helping to include populations that are under-represented in traditional meta-analyses.

“Most research studies on meat and type 2 diabetes have been conducted in USA and Europe, with some in East Asia. This research included additional studies from the Middle East, Latin America and South Asia, and highlighted the need for investment in research in these regions and in Africa.”

Global meat production has rapidly increased in recent decades, with meat consumption exceeding dietary guidelines in many countries.

The findings were published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.

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