Dairy consumption and risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in the Fenland study

Isabel A L Slurink; Nina Kupper; Tom Smeets; Sabita S Soedamah-Muthu

doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2024.09.026

Dairy consumption and risk of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in the Fenland study

Clin Nutr. 2024 Nov;43(11):69-79. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.09.026. Epub 2024 Sep 17.

Authors

Isabel A L Slurink¹, Nina Kupper², Tom Smeets², Sabita S Soedamah-Muthu³

Affiliations

¹ Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands. Electronic address: I.A.L.Slurink@tilburguniversity.edu.
² Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
³ Center of Research on Psychological Disorders and Somatic Diseases (CoRPS), Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, the Netherlands; Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6AR, United Kingdom.

PMID: 39353264
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.09.026

Abstract

Background & aims: Limited observational evidence suggests that a higher intake of high-fat dairy may be associated with lower prediabetes risk, while opposite associations have been observed for low-fat milk intake. This study aimed to examine associations between baseline and changes in dairy consumption, risk of prediabetes, and glycaemic status.

Methods: 7521 participants from the prospective UK Fenland study were included (mean age 48.7 ± 2.0 years, 51.9 % female). Dairy intake was measured using self-reported food frequency questionnaires. Associations with prediabetes risk and glycaemic status were analysed using Poisson regression models adjusted for social demographics, health behaviours, family history of diabetes and food group intake.

Results: At a mean follow-up of 6.7 ± 2.0 years, 290 participants developed prediabetes (4.3 %). Most dairy products were not significantly associated with prediabetes risk. A higher baseline intake of high-fat dairy (RR_servings/day 1.20, 95%CI 1.03-1.39) and high-fat milk (RR_servings/day 1.22, 1.01-1.47) were associated with higher prediabetes risk. Conversely, low-fat milk was associated with lower prediabetes risk (RR_servings/day 0.86, 0.75-0.98). In the analyses evaluating dietary changes over time, increases in high-fat milk were inversely associated with risk of progressing from normoglycaemia to prediabetes or type 2 diabetes (RR_servings/day 0.86, 95%CI 0.75-0.99).

Conclusions: This population-based study showed that most dairy products are not associated with prediabetes risk or progression in glycaemic status. Positive associations of high-fat dairy, high-fat milk, and the inverse association of low-fat milk with prediabetes risk found were inconsistent with prior literature and suggestive of the need for future research on environmental, behavioural, and biological factors that explain the available evidence.

Keywords: Dairy; Epidemiology; Impaired fasting glucose; Impaired glucose tolerance; Nutrition; Type 2 diabetes.

MeSH terms

Adult
Blood Glucose / metabolism
Dairy Products* / statistics & numerical data
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / epidemiology
Diet / adverse effects
Diet / statistics & numerical data
Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Milk
Prediabetic State* / epidemiology
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
United Kingdom / epidemiology

Substances

Blood Glucose
Dietary Fats