Dietary fibres and dairy products : How does it affect the development of cancer and diabetes type 2

Abstract: Eating habits are one of the main factors that can affect the development of non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes. The prevention of cancer and diabetes is a significant public health challenge due to the growing rate all over the world. Dietary behaviours are one of the important factors to lower the risk of these diseases. This review aims to investigate if dairy products and dietary fibres consumption can affect the risk of developing cancer and diabetes and the recommended intake. Dairy products are part of a balanced diet, supplying the human body with essential nutrients with high protein quality, vitamin, and minerals. Dietary fibre has an important role in the diet proposing to give beneficial effects for human health due to the fermentation in the colon, reduced gut transit time and increased faecal bulking. Dairy products and dietary fibres may influence insulin sensitivity and insulin resistance that could reduce the risk for diabetes type 2. Also, properties that can influence cell differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis that can affect the development of cancers. The findings of this study suggests that dietary fibres can be protective against the risk of colorectal cancer and reducing the risk of diabetes type 2. But the results remain inconclusive whereas other studies are showing no associations between dietary fibres and the development of cancer and diabetes type 2. The recommended intake of dietary fibres was highly variable between the studies for lowering the risk of cancer. The recommended intake for diabetes type 2 were between 15-40g per day. Dairy product consumption resulted in a possible decreased risk of colorectal cancer and a probable increased risk for prostate- and breast cancer. However, other studies showed no associations between cancer development and dairy product consumption. Yoghurt resulted to be the most protective dairy product against type 2 diabetes with a recommended intake between 50-200g per day. Though there were no associations between dairy product consumption and the risk of diabetes type 2, and the results remains inconclusive. The inconsistent results may be due to there are other lifestyle factors that have an impact on the development of diabetes and cancer and therefore present different results.