More than 135 million adults in the United States are either living with or at risk for type 2 diabetes, highlighting the importance of clear dietary guidance for this group. A recent randomized controlled trial examined whether eating beef as part of a daily diet affects risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic markers in people with prediabetes.
The study, published in Current Developments in Nutrition, included 24 adults aged 18 to 74 years who were overweight or obese and had prediabetes but were otherwise healthy. Participants followed two different diets during separate 28-day periods, separated by a washout period. In each phase, they ate two meals per day containing either beef or poultry, with each meal including between three and three-and-a-half ounces of cooked meat prepared in various forms such as fajitas, stew, burgers, burritos, or stir fry.
Researchers measured pancreatic β-cell function and glucoregulatory hormones before and after each dietary period to assess how the diets affected glucose regulation. They found no statistically significant differences in pancreatic β-cell function parameters or insulin sensitivity after participants consumed either six to seven ounces of unprocessed beef or poultry per day over four weeks.
Indika Edirisinghe, PhD, Professor of Food Science and Nutrition at Illinois Institute of Technology said: "The study findings suggest that regular beef intake does not adversely affect metabolic or inflammatory risk factors compared with poultry in an at-risk prediabetic population." Edirisinghe also noted: "Although the study duration was relatively short (one month), this time frame is generally considered sufficient to detect measurable metabolic outcomes."
The research was funded by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association through the Beef Checkoff program. According to the authors, the association did not participate in data collection or analysis and only reviewed a draft of the manuscript prior to submission.
