According to the EPIC study, what is the risk associated with increased calories from animal protein?

The EPIC study, which stands for the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition, investigated various dietary factors and their impact on health outcomes among participants across Europe. One significant finding of the study was that increased caloric intake from animal protein is associated with an elevated risk of developing diabetes.

This connection can be attributed to several factors. Diets rich in animal proteins often correlate with higher intakes of saturated fats and lower intakes of dietary fiber, both of which can negatively impact insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. Additionally, the consumption of red and processed meats has been linked to inflammation, which plays a role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Thus, the data from the EPIC study supports the understanding that high caloric intake from animal protein can indeed increase the risk of diabetes in individuals.

The other choices either suggest no change in risk or propose that increased animal protein may lower the risk of diseases, which contradicts the findings of the EPIC study regarding diabetes risk specifically.