Is higher dairy consumption associated with lower body weight and fewer metabolic disturbances? The Hoorn Study.
BACKGROUND
Dairy consumption has been postulated to reduce the risk of obesity and metabolic disturbances.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of dairy consumption with body weight and other components of the metabolic syndrome.


METHODS
We used cross-sectional data for 2064 men and women aged 50-75 y who participated in the Hoorn Study. The metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel. Dairy consumption was assessed by using a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire.


RESULTS
The median consumption of total dairy products was 4.1 servings/d. After adjustment for potential confounders (ie, dietary factors, physical activity, smoking, income, educational level, and antihypertensive medication), total dairy consumption was significantly associated with lower diastolic blood pressure (beta +/- SE: -0.31 +/- 0.12 mm Hg/serving) and higher fasting glucose concentrations (0.04 +/- 0.02 mmol/L per serving), but not with body weight or other metabolic variables (ie, lipids, postload glucose, or insulin). When different dairy products were distinguished, borderline significant (P < 0.10) inverse associations were observed for dairy desserts, milk, and yogurt with systolic (-1.26 +/- 0.58, -0.57 +/- 0.34, and -1.28 +/- 0.74 mm Hg/serving, respectively) and diastolic (-0.58 +/- 0.31, -0.57 +/- 0.18, and -0.35 +/- 0.40 mm Hg/serving, respectively) blood pressure, whereas cheese consumption was positively associated with body mass index (0.15 +/- 0.08/serving).


CONCLUSIONS
In an elderly Dutch population, higher dairy consumption was not associated with lower weight or more favorable levels of components of the metabolic syndrome, except for a modest association with lower blood pressure.
Snijder
Marieke B
MB
Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije University, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
van der Heijden
Amber Awa
AA
van Dam
Rob M
RM
Stehouwer
Coen D A
CD
Hiddink
Gerrit J
GJ
Nijpels
Giel
G
Heine
Robert J
RJ
Bouter
Lex M
LM
Dekker
Jacqueline M
JM
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary