Diets high in animal protein, including meat, eggs, seafood, cheese, yogurt and other dairy products, were associated with an elevated risk for type 2 diabetes. That was the finding of this study:
Dietary Protein Intake and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Europe: The EPIC-INTERACT Case-Cohort Study, Diabetes Care, 10 April 2014
Dr. Frank Hu, from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston (not involved with the study) said:
“Several previous studies have found that higher intake of total protein, especially animal protein, are associated with long-term risk of developing diabetes.”
For this study, researchers examined data from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-InterAct case-cohort study, a large previous study of adults in eight European countries. There was a 12-year follow-up.
It found:
“Type 2 diabetes was higher in those with high intake of total protein and animal protein. Plant protein intake was not associated with type 2 diabetes.”
After adjusting for other risk factors, there was a 13% higher incidence of diabetes for every 10 gram increment of protein.