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.
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