Dairy products and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of cohort studies

Seventeen cohort studies were included in the meta-analysis based on the PubMed database. The authors observed a dose-response effect. The RRs were calculated as follows:

• 0.93 per 400 g total dairy products/d
• 0.98 per 200 g high-fat dairy products/d
• 0.91 per 200 g low-fat dairy products/d
• 0.87 (0.72, 1.04; I2 = 94%) per 200 g milk/d
• 0.92 (0.86, 0.99; I2 = 0%) per 50 g cheese/d

The impact of yogurt is even stronger with an RR of 0.78 per 200 g yogurt/d. Nonlinear inverse associations were observed for all categories of dairy products, but there was a flattening of the curve at higher intakes.

Source: Dagfinn Aune et al. Am J Clin Nutr October 2013 vol. 98 no. 4 1066-1083