In findings that will surprise many health experts, Swedish researchers have determined a diet rich in high-fat dairy products cuts the risk for Type 2 diabetes.

The findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, are in line with previous studies that have linked a lower diabetes risk to consumption of cheese, butter, and other dairy products. But the new study, by Lund University researchers, is the first to specifically tie the benefits to high-fat dairy foods.

"Those who ate the most high-fat dairy products had a 23 percent lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than those who ate the least,” said Ulrika Ericson, who conducted the study. “High meat consumption was linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes regardless of the fat content of the meat.”

The findings are based on an analysis of the eating habits of 27,000 individuals, aged 45 to 74, who provided details on their diet as part of a study of nutrition and cancer begun in the 1990s. Since that time, 10 percent – 2,860 people — developed Type 2 diabetes.

The results showed those who ate a lot of meat were at higher risk of Type 2 diabetes, while those consuming a lot of high-fat dairy products had a lower risk.

"When we investigated the consumption of saturated fatty acids that are slightly more common in dairy products than in meat, we observed a link with a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes,” Ericson said. “However, we have not ruled out the possibility that other components of dairy products such as yogurt and cheese may have contributed to our results.”

Other factors may also be at work, including activity levels, dietary factors, and lifestyle habits, Ericson added.