The results of a study reported this week in and issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, suggest a link between whole-fat diary products and metabolism as well as the risk of type 2 diabetes. It appears that the fatty acids in the milk and other products are the key to the results. The data showed that there was as much as a sixty percent reduced risk of diabetes for the group of adults which had the highest levels of the acid in their system.
In addition to the reduced risk for diabetes, the groups with the increased fatty acid levels, referred to in the report as trans-palmitoleic acid, showed a more favorable metabolic rate. While the findings relative to metabolism are not new, the research does support earlier research which came to the same conclusion.
While the findings of the report could be used to support the development of beneficial medications or new healthy lifestyle guidelines the data is not yet fully conclusive and additional testing is required.