High soy consumption associated with an 18% increased risk of diabetes

This study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2011 Feb;65(2):279-82

Study title and authors:
Soy consumption is not protective against diabetes in Hawaii: the Multiethnic Cohort.

Morimoto Y, Steinbrecher A, Kolonel LN, Maskarinec G.
Department of Epidemiology, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, 1236 Lauhala Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. morimoto@crch.hawaii.edu

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20924394

The study examined the association of soy intake with the risk of diabetes. The study included 75,344 men and women, aged 45-75 years, who were followed for 14 years.

The study found that those who had the highest soy consumption had a 18% increased risk of diabetes compared to those who consumed the least soy.

Meat, eggs and saturated fat reduce the risk of diabetes

This study was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003 Apr;57(4):523-30

Study title and authors:

Diet and glucose tolerance in a Chinese population.

Woo J, Ho SC, Sham A, Sea MM, Lam KS, Lam TH, Janus ED.

Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Republic of China. jeanwoowong@cuhk.edu.hk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12700613

The study investigated the dietary patterns in 988 Hong Kong Chinese subjects with or without diabetes to determine if there is any association between diet and diabetes.

The study found:
(a) Those with diabetes consumed 4.5% more rice, noodles and pasta than those without diabetes.
(b) Those with diabetes consumed 17% more vegetables than those without diabetes.
(c) Those with diabetes consumed 25% more soy than those without diabetes.
(d) Those with diabetes consumed 13% less meat than those without diabetes.
(e) Those with diabetes consumed 25% less eggs than those without diabetes.
(f) Those with diabetes consumed 12% less saturated fat than those without diabetes.

This study shows that a higher consumption of meat, eggs and saturated fat reduces the risk of diabetes, whereas a higher consumption of soy and carbohydrate rich foods increases the risk of diabetes.

Links to other studies:
Beneficial effects of a high fat, low carbohydrate diet on fat reduction in type 2 diabetic patients with obesity
Diabetes rates have tripled since the low fat crusade started in 1977
High-carbohydrate diets cause a significant rise in blood sugar