Does yogurt reduce the risk of diabetes? FDA Allows Companies to Claim They Can

Skimmed or whole, flavored or plain, probiotic or natural, yogurt is already dotted with labels. But you may soon see a new claim on your container: This month, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it would allow yogurt makers to claim that their products could prevent type 2 diabetes.

The FDA said it found “limited scientific evidence” that consuming yogurt may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The agency’s decision followed a petition filed on behalf of Danone North America, which makes yogurts sold under the brands Activia, Dannon and Oikos.

Yogurt can be a nutrient-dense food and part of a healthy diet, and some data suggests that people who eat it regularly have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, said Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

But consumers may not realize that “limited evidence” means “the evidence is not very strong,” said Bonnie Liebman, director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which submitted a public comment opposing the petition. Here’s what the science says.

What is the evidence on the risk of yogurt and type 2 diabetes?

The FDA cited 28 studies in its review of evidence on yogurt and type 2 diabetes risk. Overall, the evidence is somewhat limited and inconsistent, Dr. Hu said: Some studies have found that people who consumed more yogurt were less likely to develop diabetes, but others were not.

Dr. Hu and his colleagues conducted several of the largest studies cited by the FDA. In a 2014 paper, for example, they looked at three large groups of adults in the United States, totaling almost 200,000 people. They found that those who consumed two or more servings of yogurt per week had a 12% lower risk of type 2 diabetes compared to those who rarely ate yogurt.

But a 2019 study of 7,633 women in Australia, as well as several others mentioned in the FDA review, did not find a significant link between yogurt consumption and type 2 diabetes prevention.

All of the studies cited by the FDA were observational, meaning the researchers primarily asked participants how much yogurt they ate and then tracked whether or not they developed diabetes over time. Such studies cannot determine whether yogurt directly prevents type 2 diabetes, because people who eat it may also have other healthy habits that could protect them from the disease, Ms. Liebman said. Researchers are trying to account for these other factors using statistical methods, Dr. Hu said, but he agrees that they could play a role in the low risk seen among yogurt consumers.

According to the FDA, the label should state that “eating yogurt regularly, at least 2 cups (3 servings) per week, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.” This weekly amount was the minimum needed to see a benefit in two studies reviewed by the agency.

Despite the uncertainties, it is plausible that yogurt consumption may help reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, Dr. Hu said. It’s rich in protein, minerals and vitamins, and unlike most other dairy products, he added, yogurt typically contains a significant amount of live bacteria that could reduce inflammation and insulin resistance. .

The new health claim could serve as a helpful reminder to people that yogurt can be a healthy choice, said Dr. Meera Shah, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

But, she added, eating three servings of yogurt a week alone is not likely to prevent type 2 diabetes. “It’s much more than that,” she added.

What other foods can reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes?

Maintaining a healthy weight and eating an overall balanced diet are both important for preventing type 2 diabetes, Dr. Hu said.

There is strong evidence that following the Mediterranean diet can prevent type 2 diabetes. You can tailor the diet to your own preferences, Dr. Shah said, by building your meals around its main components: whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds and healthy sources of fats such as olive oil and fish.

Drinking coffee has also been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, Dr. Hu added.

It’s just as important, he said, to limit your intake of foods that can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, including sugary drinks, processed meats and ultra-processed foods.

Several servings of yogurt per week — especially plain yogurt without added sugars, perhaps sweetened with fresh fruit or a drizzle of honey — can certainly be part of an overall healthy diet, Dr. Hu said.

But, he added, “it’s not a silver bullet.”