Men who eats lots of dairy foods, especially skim milk, may have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a report released Monday.

Dr. Hyon K. Choi, from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues analyzed data from 41,254 men who participated in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The subjects were initially free from diabetes, cancer, and heart disease and were tracked for 12 years.

After adjusting for weight, physical activity, and dietary factors, men with the highest intake of dairy foods were 23 percent less likely to develop diabetes than those with the lowest intake, the researchers found.

Each added daily serving of low-fat dairy products was associated with a 9 percent lower risk for diabetes, the report said.    

Researchers explained ingredients in dairy products may help the body use insulin to process blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes results from the body's inability to use insulin or a decline in insulin production.

The research result appears in the May 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

(Xinhua News Agency/Agencies May 10, 2005)