Sticking to low-fat dairy products may not be the only heart-healthy option, study finds

New research among the world’s largest consumers of dairy products has shown that those who consume more milk fat, as measured by the levels of fatty acids in the blood, have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those who consume little. . Higher intakes of milk fat were not associated with an increased risk of death.

The researchers then combined the results of this study in just over 4,000 Swedish adults with those of 17 similar studies in other countries, creating the most comprehensive evidence to date on the relationship between this more objective measure of health. consumption of dairy fat, risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death.

Dr Matti Marklund of the George Institute for Global Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Uppsala University said that with the increase in the consumption of dairy products around the world, a better understanding of the health impact was necessary.

“Many studies have relied on the ability of people to remember and record the amounts and types of dairy products they ate, which is especially difficult given that dairy products are commonly used in a variety of foods. ‘food.

“Instead, we measured the blood levels of certain fatty acids, or ‘building blocks’ of fats that are found in dairy products, which gives a more objective measure of dairy fat intake that doesn’t. not rely on memory or the quality of food databases. ”he added.

“We found that those with the highest levels actually had the lowest risk of CVD. These relationships are very interesting, but we need more studies to better understand the total impact on the health of the materials. milk fat and dairy products. “

The consumption of dairy and dairy products in Sweden is among the highest in the world. An international collaboration between researchers in Sweden, the United States and Australia assessed the consumption of milk fat in 4,150 Swedes aged 60 by measuring the blood levels of a particular fatty acid which is mainly found in dairy products and can therefore be used to reflect the consumption of dairy products. fat.

They were then followed for an average of 16 years to see how many had heart attacks, strokes, and other serious circulatory events, and how many died of any cause during that time.

After statistical adjustment for other known CVD risk factors, including age, income, lifestyle, eating habits, and other illnesses, CVD risk was lowest for people with higher levels of CVD. high fatty acids (reflecting high milk fat intake). Those with the highest levels did not have an increased risk of death from all causes.

Dr Marklund added that the results highlight the uncertainty of the evidence in this area, which is reflected in the dietary guidelines.

“While some dietary guidelines continue to suggest consumers choose low-fat dairy products, others have moved away from that advice, suggesting instead that dairy can be part of a healthy diet with an emphasis on selecting certain dairy products, for example yogurt rather than butter – or avoiding sugary dairy products loaded with added sugar, ”he said.

Combining these results with 17 other studies involving a total of nearly 43,000 people from the United States, Denmark and the United Kingdom confirmed these results in other populations.

“Although the results may be partly influenced by factors other than milk fat, our study does not suggest any harm to milk fat per se,” said Dr Marklund.

Lead author Dr Kathy Trieu of the George Institute for Global Health said that consuming certain dairy products, especially fermented products, was previously associated with benefits for the heart.

“Growing evidence suggests that the health impact of dairy products may depend more on type – like cheese, yogurt, milk and butter – rather than fat content, which has raised doubts as to whether avoiding dairy fat is overall beneficial for cardiovascular disease. health, “she said.

“Our study suggests that cutting back on dairy fat or avoiding dairy products altogether may not be the best choice for heart health.”

“It’s important to remember that while dairy products can be high in saturated fat, they are also high in many other nutrients and can be part of a healthy diet. However, other fats like those found in seafood, nuts and non-tropical vegetable oils may have greater health benefits than dairy fats, ”added Dr Trieu.

The study is published in PLoS medicine.