Preventing type 2 diabetes may become easier according to new research that suggests a natural substance found in dairy foods may help in the fight.
The trans-palmitoleic acid compound occurs in the dairy fat of milk, cheese, yogurt and butter but cannot be made by the body.
Now researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in the US have found the compound could help combat Type-2 diabetes.
The latest research, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, involved more than 3,700 people. They were followed for 20 years by researchers looking at the risks of developing cardiovascular disease as people get older.
Measurements included blood glucose and insulin levels, and levels of fatty acids (including trans-palmitoleic acid) in the blood.
The results showed that higher levels of trans-palmitoleic acid were associated with healthier levels of blood cholesterol, insulin levels and insulin sensitivity.
Overall, people with the highest levels of trans-palmitoleic acid had about a 60% reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Whole-fat dairy products contain trans-palmitoleic acid which promotes healthy levels of blood cholesterol, normal insulin levels and increased insulin sensitivity, said study researcher Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
"These findings do suggest that we should think of dairy as more than a carrier of calcium and vitamin D," Mozaffarian said."I don't think there's enough evidence to show that we should start drinking whole milk," Dr. Joel Zonszein, director of the Clinical Diabetes Center at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, told Health Day. "We need to understand the mechanism behind this association. Dietary changes in this country tend to be to extremes, but this study should not be used to make changes in the diet; it's just an observation right now."What is Type 2 Diabetes?Diabetes is a common condition in which the body's blood sugar levels are consistently elevated, also known as hyperglycemia.There are two different types of diabetes: those diagnosed in children and those diagnosed in adults. Type 1 (which is discovered during childhood and is a life-long condition), impacts about 2 million Americans. But 10 times that number - over 20 million Americans - suffer from Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes. The general American population has a 1 in 9 lifetime risk of developing the condition.And the number of people suffering from Type 2 diabetes, which is generally diagnosed in people over the age of 45, is on the rise. Scientists believe this is because of our sedentary lifestyles and an ever-growing percentage of people who are overweight.
Type 2 diabetes can be the result of one (or both of the following problems): * The pancreas does not make enough insulin to meet the demands of the body * The cells of the body (generally fat cells, muscle cells, or liver cells) do not respond to the high levels of insulin. This is called insulin resistance.But one could dig a little deeper and ask the question of what causes those causes of diabetes? And the answer is weight. Because being overweight or obese is behind most cases of insulin resistance, and it increases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.Proper screening for Type 2 diabetes is extremely important. In nearly 40% of people with the condition, there are no recognizable symptoms. It is only through recognizing risk factors and testing accordingly that doctors can diagnose and treat Type 2 diabetes before any long-term damage is done.Before anyone has Type 2 diabetes, they will often have what is called pre-diabetes. It is estimated that 16 million Americans fit in this category. People with pre-diabetes have high blood glucose levels - but not quite high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. For people with pre-diabetes, regular screening is essential.
Source: Yellowbrix
