Ethnic differences in dairy and related nutrient consumption among US adults and their association with obesity, central obesity, and the metabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies suggest dairy consumption and associated nutrients may be protective against some of the components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS).


OBJECTIVE
We examined the association between consumption of a variety of dairy products and their related nutrients with obesity, central obesity, and MetS, and attempted to explain some of the ethnic differences in metabolic outcomes through dairy consumption using national data.


METHODS
Nationally representative indicators of obesity, central obesity, and MetS among US adults were constructed from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2004 data, including direct anthropometric assessments, blood pressure, and laboratory tests. Sample sizes ranged from 4519 for MetS to 14 618 for obesity. Associations between diet (assessed using 24-h recalls) and metabolic and other outcomes were tested using multivariate linear and logistic models and structural equation models.


RESULTS
We found a significant inverse association between intake of whole milk, yogurt, calcium, and magnesium and metabolic disorders. Odds ratios for one more daily serving of yogurt and 100 mg Mg for MetS were 0.40 (95% CI: 0.18, 0.89) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72, 0.96), respectively. The opposite was found for intakes of cheese, low-fat milk, and phosphorus. Using structural equation models, ethnic differences in some MetS outcomes, such as body mass index and systolic blood pressure, were partly explained by variations in dairy-related nutrients.


CONCLUSIONS
Various dairy products may have differential associations with metabolic disorders, including obesity. Ethnic differences in dairy consumption may explain in part the ethnic disparities in metabolic disorders in the US population.
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
May A
MA
Beydoun
Tiffany L
TL
Gary
Benjamin H
BH
Caballero
Robert S
RS
Lawrence
Lawrence J
LJ
Cheskin
Youfa
Y
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D005006:Ethnicity; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008892:Milk; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015014:Yogurt
D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium