A reappraisal of the impact of dairy foods and milk fat on cardiovascular disease risk.
BACKGROUND
This review provides a reappraisal of the potential effects of dairy foods, including dairy fats, on cardiovascular disease (CVD)/coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. Commodities and foods containing saturated fats are of particular focus as current public dietary recommendations are directed toward reducing the intake of saturated fats as a means to improve the overall health of the population. A conference of scientists from different perspectives of dietary fat and health was convened in order to consider the scientific basis for these recommendations.


OBJECTIVE
This review and summary of the conference focus on four key areas related to the biology of dairy foods and fats and their potential impact on human health: (a) the effect of dairy foods on CVD in prospective cohort studies; (b) the impact of dairy fat on plasma lipid risk factors for CVD; (c) the effects of dairy fat on non-lipid risk factors for CVD; and (d) the role of dairy products as essential contributors of micronutrients in reference food patterns for the elderly.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the contribution of dairy products to the saturated fatty acid composition of the diet, and given the diversity of dairy foods of widely differing composition, there is no clear evidence that dairy food consumption is consistently associated with a higher risk of CVD. Thus, recommendations to reduce dairy food consumption irrespective of the nature of the dairy product should be made with caution.
German
J Bruce
JB
Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA. jbgerman@ucdavis.edu
Gibson
Robert A
RA
Krauss
Ronald M
RM
Nestel
Paul
P
Lamarche
Benoît
B
van Staveren
Wija A
WA
Steijns
Jan M
JM
de Groot
Lisette C P G M
LC
Lock
Adam L
AL
Destaillats
Frédéric
F
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012307:Risk Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D018977:Micronutrients