Leyla Weighs In: Exploring the Link Between Food Additives and Type 2 Diabetes

About this episode

Leyla Muedin discusses a study linking food preservatives to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Registered dietitian nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses a Nature Communications study of 108,723 French adults in the NutriNet-Santé cohort (2009–2023) examining long-term exposure to food preservatives and type 2 diabetes. Using detailed dietary records cross-referenced with product/additive databases, researchers identified 58 preservative-related additives and analyzed 17 consumed by at least 10% of participants; 1,131 diabetes cases occurred. Higher overall preservative intake was associated with a 47% increased diabetes risk (49% for non-antioxidant preservatives; 40% for antioxidant additives), with several specific additives linked to higher risk. Leyla questions whether the findings reflect preservatives themselves or the ultra-processed, refined-carbohydrate foods that contain them, emphasizing recommendations to favor fresh, minimally processed foods and limit refined carbs and processed foods.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Ronald Hoffman

Guest: Leyla Muedin

Topics covered

• food additives
• type 2 diabetes
• dietary studies
• health risks
• nutrition

Keywords

• food additives
• type 2 diabetes
• preservatives
• nutrition
• dietary records
• health risks
• processed foods

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Nature Communications, NutriNet-Santé

Places: France

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