Does drinking milk or taking selenium lead to diabetes?
Does drinking milk contribute to developing diabetes? This is a shocker to me as I drink three glasses a day to get calcium.
I have read that people who have taken selenium for a number of years are prone to an increase in their blood sugar, possibly leading to diabetes. Is this true?
Dr. Gourmet Says...
Milk itself is not linked to diabetes. We do know that Mediterranean
style diet doesn't really include drinking milk. Those in Mediterranean
countries consume the majority of their dairy as processed dairy such as
cheese and yogurt.
There has been some recent research that links an excess of selenium in people's bloodstream with diabetes. This could be from supplements although selenium is found in high levels in soil in certain parts of the country. Here's a link to the map:
http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/averages/se/usa.html
The recommended dietary allowance for selenium is 55 micrograms per day for adults. This is pretty easy to get and most Americans do through their diet and don't need supplements. The FDA recommends that one's intake not exceed 400 micrograms (mcg) per day. The have recalled supplements on multiple occasions some with as much as 40,000 mcg per pill.
The mechanism for the link between diabetes and high selenium intake has not been outlined.
Thanks for writing,
Timothy S. Harlan, M.D.
Dr. Gourmet