Lactose-Intolerant Milk Drinkers may Face a Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Contrary to common beliefs, a recent study suggests that individuals who are lactose intolerant might benefit from daily milk consumption as a preventive measure against diabetes. The study focused on a genetic variant influencing this effect.
Previous investigations into the connection between milk consumption and diabetes have yielded varied results. Some studies indicated a correlation, while others did not. Additionally, when a positive impact on reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes was identified, it was often associated specifically with the consumption of low-fat dairy products.
Suspecting that genetic factors might contribute to the variability observed, a team of 20 researchers from various institutions in the US and China conducted a review of approximately 12,000 Hispanic adults participating in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. This ongoing study, initiated in 2006, has been monitoring the health data of over 16,000 Hispanic individuals.
Genetic Link Between Lactose Intolerance and Reduced Diabetes Risk
To investigate the inconsistent findings regarding dairy and diabetes, the researchers conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic explanations for certain traits. Their findings revealed that individuals with a genetic variant associated with lactose intolerance, known as lactase non-persistence (LNP), exhibited a 30% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes when regularly consuming milk. These results were corroborated by an analysis of data from the UK Biobank, where an examination of 160,000 individuals also demonstrated the same association.
Certainly, this raises questions about the trade-off between risk and benefit concerning one’s health. Whether consuming a substance that the body struggles to digest is worthwhile for reducing the risk of a potentially non-occurring disease depends on the individual, according to Lonneke Janssen Duijghuijsen, a nutrition and health researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, who was not involved in the research.
Lactase Non-Persistence and Tolerance Levels
Duijghuijsen emphasized that lactase non-persistence does not necessarily eliminate the ability to consume some amount of lactose. Research indicates that many lactase non-persistent individuals can still tolerate up to 12 grams of lactose per day, equivalent to the amount in a large glass of milk, without experiencing intolerance symptoms. The tolerance for lactose varies among individuals, with some able to consume more than 12 grams without issues, while others may experience symptoms even with lower doses.
Gut Microbiome Dynamics in Lactase Non-Persistence
Duijghuijsen led a separate study published in December, revealing that lactase non-persistent individuals who consumed milk experienced changes in their gut microbiome based on how lactose was broken down in their intestines. These microbiome changes could potentially explain the metabolic effects observed in the new study. However, Duijghuijsen advises that further research is necessary to firmly establish a causal link between milk consumption in lactase non-persistent individuals and their risk of developing diabetes, while also considering and ruling out other contributing factors.
“The study doesn’t directly offer dietary suggestions but instead underscores the potential impacts of milk consumption within a particular population on gut microbiota and its metabolites, along with the potential association with a specific health outcome,” he explained. “They are clear that it’s an observational, population-based epidemiological study that cannot draw causal conclusions.”
Read the original article on: New atlas
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