Marriage has been linked with better overall health as a new study has been published specifically linking it to healthy blood-sugar levels.

The research, which analysed the blood-sugar levels and relationship status of thousands of people aged over 50, concluded that “marital relationships, regardless of the quality of the relationship, are associated with lower HbA1c [blood sugar] values for male and female adults aged over 50 years”.

“Overall, our results suggested that marital/cohabitating relationships were inversely related to HbA1c levels regardless of dimensions of spousal support or strain. Likewise, these relationships appeared to have a protective effect against HbA1c levels above the pre-diabetes threshold,” it said.

Citing previous research elsewhere, those behind the study said “marital relationships have been extensively associated with positive health effects”.