Eating yoghurt regularly may reduce a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a new study indicates.

According to UK scientists, while dairy products are an important source of vitamins, minerals and protein, they also contain saturated fat, which people are advised to limit their consumption of and/or replace with low-fat options.

Previous research on the possible link between dairy products and diabetes has so far proven inconclusive, so the scientists decided to investigate further.

From a large study of 25,000 men and women, they identified 753 people who had developed type 2 diabetes during an 11-year follow-up period. These were compared to over 3,500 people who did not develop the condition.

At the beginning of the study, all of the participants had kept a detailed record of everything they had consumed over a week period. These records were analysed.

The study found that the overall consumption of dairy products was not linked to the development of type 2 diabetes.

However, when it looked specifically at the consumption of low-fat fermented products, such as yoghurt, fromage frais and low-fat cottage cheese, the study found that those who consumed the highest amounts of these products were 24% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with those who did not eat these products.

Yoghurt makes up around 85% of low-fat fermented dairy products and when the scientists looked at yoghurt products specifically, they found that people who consumed high amounts had a 28% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to non-consumers.

This reduction of risk was seen in people who ate the equivalent of four-and-a-half standard 125g pots of yoghurt each week.

The study also noted that replacing other snacks, such as crisps, with a yoghurt reduced the risk as well.

The scientists from the University of Cambridge said that these products contain lots of beneficial parts, such as vitamin D and calcium, and added that the probiotic bacteria in these products may also be beneficial.

"At a time when we have a lot of other evidence that consuming high amounts of certain foods, such as added sugars and sugary drinks, is bad for our health, it is very reassuring to have messages about other foods like yoghurt and low-fat fermented dairy products, that could be good for our health," the team commented.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Diabetologia.