Type 2 diabetes is extending more and more throughout the world.Various research has shown that neglecting healthy habits, such as doing enough physical exercise or following adequate food, can promote the development of the disease.
In some studies, high cholesterol diets have been associated with alterations in glucose metabolism and with a greater risk of type 2 diabetes. Instead, in certain experimental studies, egg consumption has led to a better balance of theglucose, among other things.
However, it has been lacking experimental data on the effects of egg consumption in the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
In large population studies, the association between egg consumption and type 2 diabetes has been investigated only scarcely, and the findings have not been consistent: egg consumption has been associated with a high risk or has not beenfound any association.
New research has deepened the subject and offers enlightening data.
The Jyrki K. Virtanen team of the University of the East Finland, analyzed data on dietary habits of 2,332 men with ages between 42 and 60 years, which were initially examined between 1984 and 1989. During a follow -up of 19, 3 years, 432 men were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
The results of the study indicate that, contrary to what some could suppose, the consumption of eggs was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, as well as with lower blood glucose levels.
The men who ate approximately four eggs per week had a 37 percent lower risk type 2 than those who only ate an egg per week.
This association persisted even after possible confusion factors, such as physical activity, body mass index, tobacco consumption or fruits and vegetables.The consumption of more than four eggs did not bring significant additional benefits.
A possible explanation is that, unlike what happens in many other populations, the consumption of eggs in Finland is not strongly associated with little healthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking, doing little physical exercise or consuming processed meats.
In addition to cholesterol, eggs contain many beneficial nutrients that can have a beneficial effect on, for example, glucose metabolism and mild inflammation, and therefore contribute to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.