Fat-free or full-fat, flavored or plain, probiotic or natural, yogurt already has a label on it.But you may soon see a new label on your container: This month, the Food and Drug Administration announced This would allow yogurt makers to claim that their products can prevent type 2 diabetes.
FDA said: They found “limited scientific evidence” that consuming yogurt may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The agency’s decision was in response to a petition filed on behalf of Danone North America, which sells yogurt under brands such as Activia, Danone, and Oikos.
Yogurt is a nutrient-dense food and may be part of a healthy diet, with some evidence suggesting that people who regularly eat yogurt have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. said Dr. Frank Fu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology. Harvard University TH Chan School of Public Health.
But consumers may not understand that “limited evidence” means “the evidence is not very strong,” said Bonnie, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Liebman says. public comment opposed to the petition. This is what science says.
What is the evidence regarding yogurt and type 2 diabetes risk?
The FDA cited 28 studies in its review of the evidence on yogurt and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Overall, the evidence is somewhat limited and inconsistent, Dr. Hu said. Some studies have found that people who consume more yogurt are less likely to develop diabetes, but others disagree.
Dr. Hu and his colleagues conducted several large-scale studies that were cited by the FDA. 2014 paperFor example, they studied three large groups of adults in the United States, totaling nearly 200,000 people. They found that people who consumed yogurt at least twice a week had a 12 percent lower risk of type 2 diabetes than those who rarely ate yogurt.
but, 2019 survey A study of 7,633 Australian women and several others mentioned in the FDA study found no significant association between yogurt consumption and prevention of type 2 diabetes.
All of the studies cited by the FDA were observational, with researchers primarily asking participants how much yogurt they consumed and then tracking whether they developed diabetes over time. Liebman said it is not possible to determine whether yogurt directly prevents type 2 diabetes because people who eat yogurt may also have other healthy habits that may protect them from the disease. Stated. Researchers are using statistical methods to try to account for these other factors, which Dr. Hu said may play a role in the lower risk seen in people who eat yogurt. Ta.
According to the FDA, the label must state that “regularly eating at least 2 cups (3 servings) of yogurt per week may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.” This weekly dose was the minimum needed to see an effect in the two studies reviewed by the agency.
Although there is some uncertainty, Dr. Hu said it is possible that consuming yogurt may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Rich in protein, minerals and vitamins, yogurt usually contains large amounts of live bacteria, unlike most other dairy products, he added. Reduce inflammation and insulin resistance.
Dr. Meera Shah, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said the new health claim could be a useful way to remind people that yogurt can be a healthy option. .
But eating yogurt three times a week is unlikely to prevent type 2 diabetes, she added. “It’s so much more than that,” she added.
What other foods can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes?
Dr. Hu said that both maintaining a healthy weight and adhering to an overall balanced diet are important to preventing type 2 diabetes.
There is solid evidence Adhering to a Mediterranean diet can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Dr. Shah says you can tailor your diet to your personal preferences by building your diet around key ingredients like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and healthy fat sources like olive oil and fish. He said he could.
You can also drink coffee Reduced risk of type 2 diabetesadded Dr. Hu.
Equally important, he said, is to limit your intake of foods that can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, such as sugary drinks, processed meats and ultra-processed foods.
A few servings of yogurt a week, especially plain yogurt with no added sugar, perhaps sweetened with fresh fruit or a drizzle of honey, can certainly be part of an overall healthy diet, says Hu. the doctor said.
But he added: “It’s not a silver bullet.”