scholarly journals Dairy Foods, Obesity, and Metabolic Health: The Role of the Food Matrix Compared with Single Nutrients

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 917S-923S ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariush Mozaffarian

ABSTRACT In the 20th century, scientific and geopolitical events led to the concept of food as a delivery system for calories and specific isolated nutrients. As a result, conventional dietary guidelines have focused on individual nutrients to maintain health and prevent disease. For dairy foods, this has led to general dietary recommendations to consume 2–3 daily servings of reduced-fat dairy foods, without regard to type (e.g., yogurt, cheese, milk), largely based on theorized benefits of isolated nutrients for bone health (e.g., calcium, vitamin D) and theorized harms of isolated nutrients for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and obesity (e.g., total fat, saturated fat, total calories). However, advances in nutrition science have demonstrated that foods represent complex matrices of nutrients, minerals, bioactives, food structures, and other factors (e.g., phoshopholipids, prebiotics, probiotics) with correspondingly complex effects on health and disease. The present evidence suggests that whole-fat dairy foods do not cause weight gain, that overall dairy consumption increases lean body mass and reduces body fat, that yogurt consumption and probiotics reduce weight gain, that fermented dairy consumption including cheese is linked to lower CVD risk, and that yogurt, cheese, and even dairy fat may protect against type 2 diabetes. Based on the current science, dairy consumption is part of a healthy diet, without strong evidence to favor reduced-fat products; while intakes of probiotic-containing unsweetened and fermented dairy products such as yogurt and cheese appear especially beneficial.

2016 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 247-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A. Lovegrove ◽  
Ditte A. Hobbs

CVD are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. One of the key dietary recommendations for CVD prevention is reduction of saturated fat intake. Yet, despite milk and dairy foods contributing on average 27 % of saturated fat intake in the UK diet, evidence from prospective cohort studies does not support a detrimental effect of milk and dairy foods on risk of CVD. The present paper provides a brief overview of the role of milk and dairy products in the diets of UK adults, and will summarise the evidence in relation to the effects of milk and dairy consumption on CVD risk factors and mortality. The majority of prospective studies and meta-analyses examining the relationship between milk and dairy product consumption and risk of CVD show that milk and dairy products, excluding butter, are not associated with detrimental effects on CVD mortality or risk biomarkers that include serum LDL-cholesterol. In addition, there is increasing evidence that milk and dairy products are associated with lower blood pressure and arterial stiffness. These apparent benefits of milk and dairy foods have been attributed to their unique nutritional composition, and suggest that the elimination of milk and dairy may not be the optimum strategy for CVD risk reduction.


2015 ◽  
Vol 113 (S2) ◽  
pp. S131-S135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda C. Tapsell

Fermented dairy foods such as yoghurt and cheese are commonly found in the Mediterranean diet. Recent landmark research has confirmed the effect of the Mediterranean diet on reducing the CVD risk, but the relative contributions of fermented dairy foods have not been fully articulated. The present study provides a review of the relationship between fermented dairy foods consumption and CVD risk in the context of the whole diet. Studies show that people who eat healthier diets may be more likely to consume yoghurt, so there is a challenge in attributing separate effects to yoghurt. Analyses from large population studies list yoghurt as the food most negatively associated with the risk of weight gain (a problem that may lead to CVD). There is some suggestion that fermented dairy foods consumption (yoghurt or cheese) may be associated with reduced inflammatory biomarkers associated with the development of CVD. Dietary trials suggest that cheese may not have the same effect on raising LDL-cholesterol levels as butter with the same saturated fat content. The same might be stated for yoghurt. The use of different probiotic cultures and other aspects of study design remain a problem for research. Nevertheless, population studies from a range of countries have shown that a reduced risk of CVD occurs with the consumption of fermented dairy foods. A combination of evidence is necessary, and more research is always valuable, but indications remain that fermented dairy foods such as cheese and yoghurt are integral to diets that are protective against CVD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1021-1021
Author(s):  
Christopher Cifelli ◽  
Julie Hess ◽  
Victor III Fulgoni

Abstract Objectives Dairy foods are foundational foods in healthy eating patterns. Consumption of dairy foods helps both children and adults meet the recommendations of a variety of essential nutrients. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to determine the contribution of total dairy, milk, cheese, and yogurt to energy and nutrient intake in children and adults. Methods Twenty-four-hour dietary recall data from children age 2–18 (n = 5038) and adults age 19–99 (n = 9813) participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015–2016 and 2017–2018 were analyzed. Intakes (both absolute amounts and as a percentage of total intake) of energy and nutrients were determined for all food groups using the USDA food category system. Data were generated on an as consumed basis and on a disaggregated basis; the latter approach reallocated energy and nutrients from milk and cheese found in other foods (e.g., pizza) back to the respective dairy food group. Total dairy was defined as milk, cheese, and yogurt in this analysis. Results On a disaggregated basis, total dairy provided 14.2% and 9.7% of total kcal/d in children and adults, respectively. At current consumption levels, milk, cheese, and yogurt contributed 61.6% of calcium, 65.8% of vitamin D, 22.8% of potassium, 23.7% of protein, 38.5% of vitamin A, 38.3% of vitamin B12, 31.1% of riboflavin, 36.3% of phosphorus, 22.7% of zinc, and 18.1% of magnesium in children, on average. Dairy foods also contributed 19% of total fat, 31.1% of saturated fat, 13.9% of sodium, and 4.7% of added sugar to the diets of children. Similarly, in adults, milk, cheese, and yogurt contributed 49.5% of calcium, 45.9% of vitamin D, 11.6% of potassium, 15.7% of protein, 26.6% of vitamin A, 24.9% of vitamin B12, 18.6% of riboflavin, 25% of phosphorus, 15.5% of zinc, and 9.4% of magnesium to the diet, on average. Total dairy also provided 14.2% of total fat, 24.8% of saturated fat, and 10.1% of sodium in adults. Milk was the top source of calcium and vitamin D in both children and adults. Conclusions Milk, cheese, and yogurt remain significant sources of key nutrients for children and adults, including three out of the four underconsumed nutrients of public health concern (vitamin D, calcium, and potassium) as defined by the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Funding Sources National Dairy Council.


Author(s):  
Michelle A. Briggs ◽  
Kristina S. Petersen ◽  
Penny M. Kris-Etherton

Dietary recommendations to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) have focused on reducing intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) for more than 50 years. While the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise substituting both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids for SFA, evidence supports other nutrient substitutions that will also reduce CVD risk. For example, replacing SFA with whole grains, but not refined carbohydrates, reduces CVD risk. Replacing SFA with protein, especially plant protein may also reduce CVD risk. While dairy fat (milk, cheese) is associated with a slightly lower CVD risk compared to meat, dairy fat results in a significantly greater CVD risk relative to unsaturated fatty acids. As research continues, we will refine our understanding of dietary patterns associated with lower CVD risk.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie M Hess ◽  
Christopher J Cifelli ◽  
Jill Nicholls ◽  
Victor Fulgoni

Introduction: The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommends consuming low-fat or fat-free dairy foods due to concerns about excess intake of energy, which can lead to overweight or obesity, and saturated fat, a type of fat that can increase blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, a blood biomarker used to predict cardiovascular disease risk. The 2015 DGA recommends limiting intake of saturated fats to less than 10% of calories per day and balancing energy intake. Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of replacing one serving of fat-free dairy foods provided in current models of the 2000-calorie Healthy U.S.-Style Eating Pattern (HUSEP) with one serving of whole- or reduced-fat dairy foods. We hypothesized that this replacement would still result in an eating pattern within calorie, saturated fat, and sodium limits. Methods: Utilizing the same food pattern modeling procedures used for the 2015 DGA, we assessed the energy and nutrient composition of six alternative models of the 2000-calorie HUSEP. In each pattern, we replaced 1 of the 3 servings of the USDA’s fat-free dairy food composite with whole- or reduced-fat dairy products or whole-/reduced-fat dairy composites. The 6 replacement models included replacements with: 1) a whole-fat dairy food composite, 2) a reduced-fat dairy food composite, 3) whole milk, 4) reduced-fat milk, 5) whole-fat cheese, and 6) reduced-fat cheese. Results: In all 6 models, the amount of saturated fat did not exceed 10% of total calories. In models 2, 3, and 4, saturated fat was 9% of total calories. The amount of energy increased slightly in all models. The original HUSEP provided 2003 calories, and the 6 models in this study provided an additional 45 (Model 4) to 94 (Model 5) additional calories. The amount of sodium also increased. The original HUSEP provides 1787 mg of sodium, and these models provided between 2082 and 2683 mg of sodium. While still lower than the current average sodium intake (3,440 mg/d), the amount of sodium in Models 1, 2, 5, and 6 exceeds 2,300 mg/d, the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Intake level for sodium. Conclusions: Results of this study indicate that some reduced- and whole-fat dairy foods, especially milk, can fit into calorie-balanced healthy eating patterns that also align with saturated fat and sodium recommendations. Allowing some flexibility in fat level of dairy food servings aligns with the 2010 DGA recommendation that calories from solid fats and added sugars are best used to increase the palatability of nutrient-dense foods, which includes milk, cheese, and yogurt.


Author(s):  
Claire Timon ◽  
Aileen O'Connor ◽  
Nupur Bhargava ◽  
Eileen Gibney ◽  
Emma Feeney

Milk and dairy foods are naturally rich sources of a wide range of nutrients, and when consumed according to recommended intakes contribute essential nutrients across all stages of the life cycle. Since then, seminal studies recommendations with respect to intake of saturated fat have been consistent and clear; limit total fat intake to 30% or less total dietary energy, with a specific recommendation for intake of saturated fat to less than 10% of total dietary energy. However, recent work has re-opened the debate on intake of saturated fat in particular, with suggestions that recommended intakes be considered not at a total fat intake within the diet, but at a food specific level. A large body of evidence exists examining the impact of dairy consumption on markers of metabolic health, both at a total dairy intake and also at a food level, with mixed findings to date, but suggests that the impact of saturated fat intake on health differs both across food groups and even between foods within the same good group such as dairy. Milk and dairy foods contain a range of nutrients and bioactive components in different levels, housed within very different food structures. The interaction of the overall food structure and the nutrients describes the concept of the ‘food matrix effect’ which has been well documented for dairy foods. Studies show that nutrients from different dairy food sources can have different effects on health and for this reason, they should be considered individually rather than grouped as a single food category in epidemiological research. This review examines the current evidence from randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses, with respect to dairy, milk, yoghurt and cheese on aspects of metabolic health, and summarises some of the potential mechanisms for these findings.


Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 3040
Author(s):  
Claire M. Timon ◽  
Aileen O’Connor ◽  
Nupur Bhargava ◽  
Eileen R. Gibney ◽  
Emma L. Feeney

Milk and dairy foods are naturally rich sources of a wide range of nutrients, and when consumed according to recommended intakes, contribute essential nutrients across all stages of the life cycle. Seminal studies recommendations with respect to intake of saturated fat have been consistent and clear: limit total fat intake to 30% or less of total dietary energy, with a specific recommendation for intake of saturated fat to less than 10% of total dietary energy. However, recent work has re-opened the debate on intake of saturated fat in particular, with suggestions that recommended intakes be considered not at a total fat intake within the diet, but at a food-specific level. A large body of evidence exists examining the impact of dairy consumption on markers of metabolic health, both at a total-dairy-intake level and also at a food-item level, with mixed findings to date. However the evidence suggests that the impact of saturated fat intake on health differs both across food groups and even between foods within the same food group such as dairy. The range of nutrients and bioactive components in milk and dairy foods are found in different levels and are housed within very different food structures. The interaction of the overall food structure and the nutrients describes the concept of the ‘food matrix effect’ which has been well-documented for dairy foods. Studies show that nutrients from different dairy food sources can have different effects on health and for this reason, they should be considered individually rather than grouped as a single food category in epidemiological research. This narrative review examines the current evidence, mainly from randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses, with respect to dairy, milk, yoghurt and cheese on aspects of metabolic health, and summarises some of the potential mechanisms for these findings.


Author(s):  
Kristin M Hirahatake ◽  
Richard S Bruno ◽  
Bradley W Bolling ◽  
Christopher Blesso ◽  
Lacy M Alexander ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Low-fat and nonfat dairy products have been promoted as part of a healthy dietary pattern by both US dietary guidelines and professional organizations for several decades. The basis for this recommendation stems in part from the putative negative cardiometabolic effects associated with saturated fat consumption. However, as nutrition research has shifted from a single nutrient to a whole-food/dietary pattern approach, the role of dairy foods and dairy fat in the diet–disease relationship is being reexamined. Most observational and experimental evidence does not support a detrimental relationship between full-fat dairy intake and cardiometabolic health, including risks of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Indeed, an expanded understanding of the dairy food matrix and the bioactive properties of dairy fats and other constituents suggests a neutral or potentially beneficial role in cardiometabolic health. To consider how consuming dairy foods, including full-fat dairy, is associated with cardiometabolic health, this review provides an innovative perspective on mechanisms that link dairy consumption to 3 main biological systems at the core of metabolic health, the gastrointestinal, hepatic, and vascular systems.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
Laury Sellem ◽  
Bernard Srour ◽  
Kim G. Jackson ◽  
Serge Hercberg ◽  
Pilar Galan ◽  
...  

Abstract In France, dairy products contribute to dietary saturated fat intake, of which reduced consumption is often recommended for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Epidemiological evidence on the association between dairy consumption and CVD risk remains unclear, suggesting either null or inverse associations. This study aimed to investigate the associations between dairy consumption (overall and specific foods) and CVD risk in a large cohort of French adults. This prospective analysis included participants aged ≥ 18 years from the NutriNet-Santé cohort (2009–2019). Daily dietary intakes were collected using 24h-dietary records. Total dairy, milk, cheese, yogurts, fermented and reduced-fat dairy intakes were investigated. CVD cases (n=1,952) included cerebrovascular (n=878 cases) and coronary heart diseases (CHD, n=1,219 cases). Multivariable Cox models were performed to investigate associations. This analysis included n=104,805 French adults (mean age at baseline 42.8 years (SD 14.6)), mean follow-up 5.5 years (SD 3.0, i.e. 579,155 persons years). There were no significant associations between dairy intakes and total CVD or CHD risks. However, the consumption of at least 160 g/d of fermented dairy (e.g. cheese and yogurts) was associated with a reduced risk of cerebrovascular diseases compared to intakes below 57 g/d (HR=0.81 [0.66-0.98], p-trend=0.01). Despite being a major dietary source of saturated fats, dairy consumption was not associated with CVD or CHD risks in this study. However, fermented dairy was associated with a lower cerebrovascular disease risk. Robust randomized controlled trials are needed to further assess the impact of consuming different dairy foods on CVD risk and potential underlying mechanisms.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Unger ◽  
Torres-Gonzalez ◽  
Kraft

Lifestyle is a key modifiable risk factor involved in the manifestation of metabolic syndrome and, in particular, diet plays a pivotal role in its prevention and development. Current dietary guidelines discourage the consumption of saturated fat and dietary sources rich in saturated fat, such as dairy products, despite data suggesting that full-fat dairy consumption is protective against metabolic syndrome. This narrative review assessed the recent epidemiological and clinical research that examined the consumption of dairy-derived saturated fatty acids (SFA) on metabolic syndrome risk. In addition, this review evaluated studies of individual SFA to gain insight into the potential mechanisms at play with intake of a diet enriched with these dairy-derived fatty acids. This work underscores that SFA are a heterogenous class of fatty acids that can differ considerably in their biological activity within the body depending on their length and specific chemical structure. In summary, previous work on the impact of dairy-derived SFA consumption on disease risk suggests that there is currently insufficient evidence to support current dietary guidelines which consolidate all dietary SFA into a single group of nutrients whose consumption should be reduced, regardless of dietary source, food matrix, and composition.


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