title: Impact of buttermilk consumption on plasma lipids and surrogate markers of cholesterol homeostasis in men and women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sphingolipids (SL) are important components of the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) found in buttermilk. While studies in animal models suggest that dietary SL may have cholesterol-lowering properties, data in human are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of buttermilk consumption on plasma lipids and surrogate markers of cholesterol (C) homeostasis in humans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men and women (n = 34) with serum LDL-C <5.0 mmol/L at screening (mean LDL-C = 3.8 mmol/L) were recruited in this double-blinded randomized crossover placebo controlled study. Their diets were supplemented with 45 g/d of buttermilk and with 45 g/d of a macro/micronutrient matched placebo (4 weeks each in random order). Serum lipid concentrations and surrogate markers of cholesterol homeostasis were measured post diet and compared using mixed models for repeated measures. Consumption of buttermilk led to reduction in serum cholesterol (-3.1%, P = 0.019), LDL-C (-3.1%, P = 0.057) and triacylglycerol (-10.7%, P = 0.007). Buttermilk consumption increased plasma lathosterol concentrations (+12.1%, P = 0.001), but multiple regression analysis indicated that variations in β-sitosterol concentrations (P = 0.002) were the only significant predictor of the LDL-C response to buttermilk consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Buttermilk consumption may be associated with reduced cholesterol concentrations in men and women, primarily through inhibition of intestinal absorption of cholesterol.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01248026.
authors.affiliation: STELA Dairy Research Center, Laval University, Quebec, Canada; Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods, Laval University, 2440, Boulevard Hochelaga, Quebec (QC), Canada G1V 0A6.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Couture
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pouliot
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lamarche
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D043302:Cultured Milk Products; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; C001521:lathosterol; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: ApoB; BMI; Buttermilk; C; C-reactive protein; CDV; CHD; CRP; Cholesterol homeostasis; FA; FFQ; FSH; MFGM; Milk polar lipids; PCSK9; Plasma lipids; SFA; SL; SM; Sphingomyelin; TG; apoliporotein-B; body mass index; cardiovascular disease; cholesterol; coronary heart disease; fatty acids; follicle-stimulating hormone; food-frequency questionnaire; milk fat globule membrane; protein convertase subtilisin kexin-9; saturated fatty acids; sphingolipids; sphingomyelin; triacylglycerol