USA – Research published this week suggests that consuming dairy products reduces the risk of adult-onset diabetes.

The study looked at 18 to 30 year olds and found that overweight individuals who ate five or more dairy products a day were less likely to develop an insulin resistance than those who ate dairy products only once a day.

One in four adults in the USA suffers from insulin resistance syndrome, where the body loses its ability to control blood sugar levels. The condition often leads to adult-onset diabetes. It can also lead to obesity and cardiovascular problems.

Lead researcher Mark Pereira of Boston’s Harvard Medical School said: “The conclusions that can be drawn from this study are that, in young adults, consuming all types of dairy products may protect individuals from developing obesity and risk factors of diabetes and heart disease.”

Pereira said that it was unclear which elements of dairy products were at work. In the study, the most frequently consumed dairy products were milk and milk drinks, followed by butter, cream and cheeses.

The study’s findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.