Low-fat dairy, but not whole-/high-fat dairy, consumption is related with higher serum adiponectin levels in apparently healthy adults.
OBJECTIVE
Although previous studies suggested that higher low-fat dairy consumption lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, the mediating factors are not well understood. Higher baseline adiponectin levels are related with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This study evaluated whether low-fat dairy is related with adiponectin in apparently healthy adults.


METHODS
We investigated a cross-sectional (n = 938) and one-year longitudinal (n = 759) relationship between low-fat and whole-/high-fat dairy (both including cow's milk and yogurt) and adiponectin. Dairy consumption was assessed with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Serum adiponectin was measured by using a specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
In the cross-sectional analysis, the geometric means (95 % confidence intervals [95 % CIs]) of log-transformed adiponectin related with the low-fat dairy categories were 7.27 (6.80-7.77) for the lowest category, 7.67 (7.09-8.31) for the middle category, and 8.40 (7.73-9.13) for the highest category (p < 0.001) after adjustment for potential confounders (including all lifestyle factors). In the longitudinal analysis, repeated-measures ANCOVA adjusted for confounding factors showed a significant time-by-categories (categories of low-fat dairy) interaction in the change of adiponectin. In contrast, no significant relationship was found between the whole-/high-fat dairy categories and adiponectin.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that higher consumption of low-fat dairy, but not of whole-/high-fat dairy, is related with higher levels of adiponectin and with the change of adiponectin level at the one-year follow-up. These results suggest that the consumption of low-fat dairy may have a beneficial effect on serum adiponectin levels.
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Heping District, Tianjin, People's Republic of China. nkj0809@gmail.com
Kaijun
K
Niu
Yoritoshi
Y
Kobayashi
Lei
L
Guan
Haruki
H
Monma
Hui
H
Guo
Yufei
Y
Cui
Atsushi
A
Otomo
Masahiko
M
Chujo
Ryoichi
R
Nagatomi
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000032:analysis*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D004041:Dietary Fats