{"id":40989,"date":"2024-08-22T06:46:03","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T06:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/doctors-cast-doubt-on-ham-sandwich-diabetes-warning\/"},"modified":"2024-08-22T06:46:05","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T06:46:05","slug":"doctors-cast-doubt-on-ham-sandwich-diabetes-warning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kede.com.br\/news\/doctors-cast-doubt-on-ham-sandwich-diabetes-warning\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctors cast doubt on ham-sandwich diabetes warning"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Newspaper headlines are warning eating “a ham sandwich a day” increases a the risk of type 2 diabetes – but experts say it is not that simple. <\/p>\n

A study of nearly two million people from 20 different countries found a link with both red and processed meats, such as steak, bacon and sausages. <\/p>\n

But doctors say while the research has been done well, the findings are nuanced and should not cause fear or panic. <\/p>\n

It is sensible to limit intake, in line with healthy-eating guidelines, they say, but the study should not wipe meat off the menu. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Missing data<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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The research, in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology<\/a> journal, has an inevitable limitation – it cannot prove meat causes diabetes, because it is impossible to discount the other possible risk factors, such as other foods people in the study ate and the lifestyle they led. <\/p>\n

Dr Duane Mellor, of the British Dietetic Association, said: “The authors did try to control for other risk factors associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, including having a higher body weight, smoking, alcohol, low vegetable intake.”<\/p>\n

But missing data meant they could not account for the effect of family history, insulin resistance or waist circumference, which are more strongly associated with diabetes. <\/p>\n

“So it is possible that the increased risk associated with processed and red meat intake could be a result of these other confounding factors,” Dr Mellor said.<\/p>\n

Studies such as this also rely on participants telling the truth and accurately recalling what they eat. <\/p>\n

Does that mean the findings should be entirely dismissed?<\/p>\n

No. It adds to a growing picture of what foods – and how much – might be good or bad for us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Bowel cancer<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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In the study, two thick slices of ham a day (50g; 1.7oz) or a small (100g) steak appeared to be a risk. <\/p>\n

The findings around chicken and other white meat were less clear.<\/p>\n

The NHS already advises people eating more than 90g (cooked weight) of red or processed meat a day to cut down to 70g, because experts believe eating too much processed meat can cause bowel cancer. <\/p>\n

The International Agency for Research on Cancer puts it in the same category of risk as tobacco smoking and asbestos. <\/p>\n

Processed meat has been modified, for taste or to extend shelf-life.<\/p>\n

The chemicals and methods used, such as smoking, curing, or adding salt or preservatives, could be a factor. <\/p>\n

And while meat is a good source of protein, vitamins and minerals, it sometimes also contains a lot of saturated fat, which has been linked to high blood-cholesterol levels, a risk factor for coronary heart disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Blood-sugar levels<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
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Lead researcher Prof Nita Forouhi, from the University of Cambridge, said: “Our research provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of an association between eating processed meat and unprocessed red meat and a higher future risk of type 2 diabetes. <\/p>\n

“It supports recommendations to limit the consumption of processed meat and unprocessed red meat to reduce type 2 diabetes cases in the population.”<\/p>\n

Type 2 diabetes is high blood-sugar levels due to the body making too little of a hormone called insulin – or the insulin it makes not working properly.<\/p>\n

Risk factors include:<\/p>\n