Some categories of ultra-processed foods are linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while other types of ultra-processed foods are not linked to a higher diabetes risk, according to a new study published in the journal Diabetes Care.
Ultra-processed foods are defined as being so heavily processed that they contain mostly substances derived from foods, rather than any intact food item. For example, a bag of popcorn with added salt would be considered processed, while a snack item made from corn starch and high-fructose corn syrup would be considered ultra-processed. Ultra-processed foods, broadly speaking, have been linked to many different health problems and risks — including anxiety and depression, cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and premature death. Children who consume more ultra-processed foods are more likely to have excess body weight as adults, and adults who consume more ultra-processed foods are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes — independent of whether they gained weight as a result of this food consumption.
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For the latest study, researchers looked at dietary patterns and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in three different large groups of participants — those who took part in studies known as the Nurses’ Health Study (71,871 women), the Nurses’ Health Study II (87,918 women), and the Health Professional Follow-Up Study (38,847 men). Dietary patterns — including intake of ultra-processed foods — were determined using detailed food frequency questionnaires. The researchers looked at not just total intake of ultra-processed foods, but also subgroups of these foods including refined breads, dark and whole-grain breads, sweetened beverages, breakfast cereals, packaged snacks, and yogurt and dairy-based desserts.
The researchers found that during an average follow-up period of 26.1 years, 19,503 participants (9.8%) developed type 2 diabetes. For participants whose total intake of ultra-processed foods was in the top fifth, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was 46% higher than for those in the bottom fifth. What’s more, consuming 10% more of total ultra-processed foods was linked to a 12% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Certain ultra-processed foods linked to increased type 2 diabetes risk
But when they broke the results down into categories of foods, only some types of ultra-processed foods were linked to a higher diabetes risk — including refined breads, sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened beverages, animal-based products, ready-to-eat mixed dishes, and sauces, spreads, and condiments. Other categories of ultra-processed foods were actually linked to a lower diabetes risk — including breakfast cereals, dark and whole-grain breads, packaged sweet or savory snacks, fruit-based products, and yogurt and dairy-based desserts.
The researchers concluded that based on this “high-quality meta-evidence” using data combined from three different large studies, higher total ultra-processed food intake is linked to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while certain categories of ultra-processed foods appear to be linked to a lower diabetes risk. These results suggest that in giving advice to avoid ultra-processed foods, health professionals and public health officials may want to focus on certain categories of these foods — at least when it comes to reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes.
Want to learn more about ultra-processed foods? Read “Processed vs. Ultra-Processed Foods.”
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