FDA Says Eating Yogurt May Reduce Diabetes Risk

The FDA said that it will not object to the use of a qualified health claim that eating yogurt is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, the agency announced Friday.

After a review of the evidence — albeit limited evidence — the FDA said “there is some credible evidence supporting a relationship between yogurt intake and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.” Because of this, yogurts that meet the FDA’s standard of identity will be allowed to carry qualified health claims just as long as they’re worded in a way that doesn’t mislead consumers.

A qualified health claim must be supported by scientific evidence but doesn’t have to meet the more rigorous “significant scientific agreement” standard required for an authorized health claim. The agency has allowed such qualified health claims for dietary supplements since 2000 and for food since 2002.

One study, published in BMC Medicine in 2014, which supported this claim, showed that every one serving of yogurt per day was incrementally linked with a 17% lower risk for development of type 2 diabetes (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.75-0.92). The same study failed to find a significant association between total dairy consumption and type 2 diabetes risk.

Of note, the association between yogurt intake and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes is based on yogurt itself as a food and not a particular nutrient or compound in yogurt, regardless of fat or sugar content.

The FDA’s decision comes after Danone North America submitted a qualified health claim petition to the FDA nearly 5 years ago that requested that the agency review the use of this type of claim for the association between consumption of yogurt and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

“We know that a growing body of research suggests regular yogurt consumption could reduce your risk of developing one of the most significant and rapidly rising health ailments in the United States,” said Miguel Freitas, PhD, Danone North America’s vice president of Health and Scientific Affairs, in a company press release. “That’s why we decided to submit a petition for this first-of-its-kind qualified health claim. Our hope is that this announcement will empower consumers with simple, actionable information they can use to help lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes through a realistic, easy-to-make dietary modification.”

The FDA considers 2 cups, or 3 servings, per week of yogurt to be the minimum amount to make this qualified health claim, so yogurt companies can word claims like the following: “Eating yogurt regularly, at least 2 cups (3 servings) per week, may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. FDA has concluded that there is limited information supporting this claim.”

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