title: Dairy consumption and CVD: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: Inverse associations between dairy consumption and CVD have been reported in several epidemiological studies. Our objective was to conduct a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies of dairy intake and CVD. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify studies that reported risk estimates for total dairy intake, individual dairy products, low/full-fat dairy intake, Ca from dairy sources and CVD, CHD and stroke. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to generate summary relative risk estimates (SRRE) for high v. low intake and stratified intake dose-response analyses. Additional dose-response analyses were performed. Heterogeneity was examined in sub-group and sensitivity analyses. In total, thirty-one unique cohort studies were identified and included in the meta-analysis. Several statistically significant SRRE below 1.0 were observed, namely for total dairy intake and stroke (SRRE=0·91; 95% CI 0·83, 0·99), cheese intake and CHD (SRRE=0·82; 95% CI 0·72, 0·93) and stroke (SRRE=0·87; 95% CI 0·77, 0·99), and Ca from dairy sources and stroke (SRRE=0·69; 95% CI 0·60, 0·81). However, there was little evidence for inverse dose-response relationships between the dairy variables and CHD and stroke after adjusting for within-study covariance. The results of this meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies have shown that dairy consumption may be associated with reduced risks of CVD, although additional data are needed to more comprehensively examine potential dose-response patterns.
authors.affiliation: 1EpidStat Institute,2100 Commonwealth Blvd,Suite 203,Ann Arbor,MI 48105USA.
authors.forename: Dominik D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: 1EpidStat Institute,2100 Commonwealth Blvd,Suite 203,Ann Arbor,MI 48105USA.
authors.forename: Lauren C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Bylsma
authors.affiliation: 1EpidStat Institute,2100 Commonwealth Blvd,Suite 203,Ann Arbor,MI 48105USA.
authors.forename: Ashley J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: 1EpidStat Institute,2100 Commonwealth Blvd,Suite 203,Ann Arbor,MI 48105USA.
authors.forename: Sarah S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: 1EpidStat Institute,2100 Commonwealth Blvd,Suite 203,Ann Arbor,MI 48105USA.
authors.forename: Abigail
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doucette
authors.affiliation: 3Exponent Inc.,Health Sciences,Bellevue, WA,USA.
authors.forename: Muhima
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.affiliation: 5EpidStat Institute,Johns Hopkins Campus,9601 Medical Center Drive,Rockville,MD 20850,USA.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Irvin
authors.affiliation: 1EpidStat Institute,2100 Commonwealth Blvd,Suite 203,Ann Arbor,MI 48105USA.
authors.forename: Paula E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: 4EpidStat Institute,149 Commonwealth Drive,Menlo Park,CA 94025,USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: 5EpidStat Institute,Johns Hopkins Campus,9601 Medical Center Drive,Rockville,MD 20850,USA.
authors.forename: Jon P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fryzek
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000009:adverse effects; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: CHD; CVD; Dairy products; Epidemiology; GLST generalised least-squares trend; ICD International Classification of Diseases; Meta-analyses; Milk; RR relative risk; SRRE summary relative risk estimate; Stroke