title: Circulating Biomarkers of Dairy Fat and Risk of Incident Diabetes Mellitus Among Men and Women in the United States in Two Large Prospective Cohorts.
abstract: In prospective studies, the relationship of self-reported consumption of dairy foods with risk of diabetes mellitus is inconsistent. Few studies have assessed dairy fat, using circulating biomarkers, and incident diabetes mellitus. We tested the hypothesis that circulating fatty acid biomarkers of dairy fat, 15:0, 17:0, and t-16:1n-7, are associated with lower incident diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  
  Among 3333 adults aged 30 to 75 years and free of prevalent diabetes mellitus at baseline, total plasma and erythrocyte fatty acids were measured in blood collected in 1989 to 1990 (Nurses' Health Study) and 1993 to 1994 (Health Professionals Follow-Up Study). Incident diabetes mellitus through 2010 was confirmed by a validated supplementary questionnaire based on symptoms, diagnostic tests, and medications. Risk was assessed by using Cox proportional hazards, with cohort findings combined by meta-analysis. During mean±standard deviation follow-up of 15.2±5.6 years, 277 new cases of diabetes mellitus were diagnosed. In pooled multivariate analyses adjusting for demographics, metabolic risk factors, lifestyle, diet, and other circulating fatty acids, individuals with higher plasma 15:0 had a 44% lower risk of diabetes mellitus (quartiles 4 versus 1, hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.86; P-trend=0.01); higher plasma 17:0, 43% lower risk (hazard ratio, 0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.83; P-trend=0.01); and higher t-16:1n-7, 52% lower risk (hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.33-0.70; P-trend <0.001). Findings were similar for erythrocyte 15:0, 17:0, and t-16:1n-7, although with broader confidence intervals that only achieved statistical significance for 17:0.
  
  
  
  In 2 prospective cohorts, higher plasma dairy fatty acid concentrations were associated with lower incident diabetes mellitus. Results were similar for erythrocyte 17:0. Our findings highlight the need to better understand the potential health effects of dairy fat, and the dietary and metabolic determinants of these fatty acids.
authors.affiliation: From Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (M.Y.Y., D.M.); Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA (P.S., D.M.); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (W.C.W., H.C., F.B.H.); Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.M.R.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (E.J.O.).
authors.forename: Mohammad Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yakoob
authors.affiliation: From Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (M.Y.Y., D.M.); Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA (P.S., D.M.); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (W.C.W., H.C., F.B.H.); Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.M.R.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (E.J.O.).
authors.forename: Peilin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: From Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (M.Y.Y., D.M.); Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA (P.S., D.M.); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (W.C.W., H.C., F.B.H.); Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.M.R.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (E.J.O.).
authors.forename: Walter C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Willett
authors.affiliation: From Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (M.Y.Y., D.M.); Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA (P.S., D.M.); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (W.C.W., H.C., F.B.H.); Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.M.R.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (E.J.O.).
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Rexrode
authors.affiliation: From Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (M.Y.Y., D.M.); Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA (P.S., D.M.); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (W.C.W., H.C., F.B.H.); Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.M.R.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (E.J.O.).
authors.forename: Hannia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: From Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (M.Y.Y., D.M.); Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA (P.S., D.M.); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (W.C.W., H.C., F.B.H.); Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.M.R.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (E.J.O.).
authors.forename: E John
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Orav
authors.affiliation: From Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (M.Y.Y., D.M.); Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA (P.S., D.M.); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (W.C.W., H.C., F.B.H.); Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.M.R.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (E.J.O.).
authors.forename: Frank B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: From Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (M.Y.Y., D.M.); Friedman School of Nutrition Science & Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA (P.S., D.M.); Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (W.C.W., H.C., F.B.H.); Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (K.M.R.); and Division of General Internal Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (E.J.O.). dariush.mozaffarian@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Dariush
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mozaffarian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003611:Dairy Products; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000097:blood*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids
keywords: biomarkers; dairy; diabetes mellitus; fatty acid