Low-fat dairy consumption reduces systolic blood pressure, but does not improve other metabolic risk parameters in overweight and obese subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological studies have indicated a negative relation between low-fat dairy consumption and the metabolic syndrome. However, evidence from intervention studies is scarce. Our aim was to investigate the effects of daily consumption of low-fat dairy products on metabolic risk parameters in overweight and obese men and women.


RESULTS
Thirty-five healthy subjects (BMI>27 kg/m(2)) consumed low-fat dairy products (500 mL low-fat milk and 150 g low-fat yogurt) or carbohydrate-rich control products (600 mL fruit juice and 3 fruit biscuits) daily for 8 weeks in random order. Compared with the control period, systolic blood pressure was decreased by 2.9 mm Hg (95% confidence interval (CI), -5.5 to -0.3 mm Hg; P=0.027), while the difference in diastolic blood pressure did not reach statistical significance (95% CI, -3.4 to 0.3 mm Hg; P=0.090). Low-fat dairy consumption decreased HDL-cholesterol concentrations by 0.04 mmol/L (95% CI, -0.07 to -0.01 mmol/L; P=0.021) and apo A-1 concentrations by 0.04 g/L (95% CI, -0.07 to -0.01 g/L; P=0.016) compared with control. Serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, apo B, triacylglycerols, non-esterified fatty acids, glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that in overweight and obese subjects, daily intake of low-fat dairy products for 8 weeks decreased systolic blood pressure, but did not improve other metabolic risk factors related to the metabolic syndrome.
van Meijl
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LE
Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. L.vanMeijl@hb.unimaas.nl
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D000328:Adult; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007328:Insulin; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014280:Triglycerides; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol