Milk enriched with "healthy fatty acids" improves cardiovascular risk markers and nutritional status in human volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a commercially available milk containing small amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, oleic acid, and vitamins A, B6, D, E, and folic acid compared with semi-skimmed and skimmed milk in volunteers with moderate cardiovascular risk.


METHODS
Two hundred ninety-seven subjects 25 to 65 y of age with moderate cardiovascular risk were randomly allocated into three groups. In addition to their diets, one group consumed 500 mL/d of the enriched milk, another group consumed 500 mL/d of skimmed milk, and a control group consumed 500 mL/d of semi-skimmed milk. All groups consumed the dairy drinks for 1 y and blood samples were taken at 0 and 12 mo.


RESULTS
Consumption of enriched milk for 1 y produced significant (P < 0.05) increases in serum folate (58%) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (4%). Plasma triacylglycerols (10%), total cholesterol (4%), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (6%) were reduced significantly only in the supplemented group. Serum glucose, homocysteine, and C-reactive protein remained unchanged. In the skimmed milk and semi-skimmed milk groups, the only significant decreases were in serum folate (17% and 11%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Daily intake of a milk enriched with fish oil, oleic acid, and vitamins improved the nutritional status and cardiovascular risk markers of volunteers, whereas skimmed milk and semi-skimmed milk did not.
Fonollá
Juristo
J
Nutrition and Health Department, Puleva Biotech S.A., Granada, Spain. jfonolla@puleva.es
López-Huertas
Eduardo
E
Machado
Francisco J
FJ
Molina
Diego
D
Alvarez
Ignacio
I
Mármol
Enrique
E
Navas
Mónica
M
Palacín
Eduardo
E
García-Valls
María J
MJ
Remón
Begoña
B
Boza
Julio J
JJ
Marti
José L
JL
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008892:Milk; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013261:Sterols / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005227:Fatty Acids; D013261:Sterols; D014280:Triglycerides; D014815:Vitamins; D006710:Homocysteine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005492:Folic Acid