The survival advantage of milk and dairy consumption: an overview of evidence from cohort studies of vascular diseases, diabetes and cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a detailed evaluation, with meta-analyses, of the published evidence on milk and dairy consumption and the incidence of vascular diseases and diabetes. Also to summarise the evidence on milk and dairy consumption and cancer reported by the World Cancer Research Fund and then to consider the relevance of milk and dairy consumption to survival in the UK, a typical Western community. Finally, published evidence on relationships with whole milk and fat-reduced milks was examined.


METHODS
Prospective cohort studies of vascular disease and diabetes with baseline data on milk or dairy consumption and a relevant disease outcome were identified by searching MEDLINE, and reference lists in the relevant published reports. Meta-analyses of relationships in these reports were conducted. The likely effect of milk and dairy consumption on survival was then considered, taking into account the results of published overviews of relationships of these foods with cancer.


RESULTS
From meta-analysis of 15 studies the relative risk of stroke and/or heart disease in subjects with high milk or dairy consumption was 0.84 (95% CI 0.76, 0.93) and 0.79 (0.75, 0.82) respectively, relative to the risk in those with low consumption. Four studies reported incident diabetes as an outcome, and the relative risk in the subjects with the highest intake of milk or diary foods was 0.92 (0.86, 0.97).


CONCLUSIONS
Set against the proportion of total deaths attributable to the life-threatening diseases in the UK, vascular disease, diabetes and cancer, the results of meta-analyses provide evidence of an overall survival advantage from the consumption of milk and dairy foods.
Elwood
Peter C
PC
Department of Epidemiology, Statistics and Public Health, Cardiff University, Nutritional Sciences Research Unit, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Cardiff, United Kingdom. pelwood@doctors.org.uk
Givens
D Ian
DI
Beswick
Andrew D
AD
Fehily
Ann M
AM
Pickering
Janet E
JE
Gallacher
John
J
D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004435:Eating; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control; D008892:Milk; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012306:Risk; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D005227:Fatty Acids