Dairy shows different associations with abdominal and BMI-defined overweight: Cross-sectional analyses exploring a variety of dairy products

New insights into dairy management and the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis: The shift from single nutrient to dairy matrix effects-A review

Dairy is recognized as a good source of calcium, which is important for preventing osteoporosis. However, the relationship between milk and bone health is more complex than just calcium supplementation. It is unwise to focus solely on observing the effects of a single nutrient. Lactose, proteins, and vitamins in milk, as well as fatty acids, oligosaccharides, and exosomes, all work together with calcium to enhance its bioavailability and utilization efficiency through various mechanisms. We evaluate the roles of dairy nutrients and active ingredients in maintaining bone homeostasis from the perspective of the dairy matrix effects. Special attention is given to threshold effects, synergistic effects, and associations with the gut-bone axis. We also summarize the associations between probiotic/prebiotic milk, low-fat/high-fat milk, lactose-free milk, and fortified milk with a reduced risk of osteoporosis and discuss the potential benefits and controversies of these dairy products. Moreover, we examine the role of dairy products in increasing peak bone mass during adolescence and reducing bone loss in old age. It provides a theoretical reference for the use of dairy products in the accurate prevention and management of osteoporosis and related chronic diseases and offers personalized dietary recommendations for bone health in different populations.

Dairy product consumption and type 2 diabetes in an Argentinian population: is there an association?

Introduction

Introduction: dairy products have long been recommended as part of a healthy eating plan, but there is a controversial opinion about whether or not they should be included in the diet of people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Objective: the aim of this study was to know if there is an association between the intake of total dairy and dairy subgroups and the chance of having T2D, and the status of markers of glucose metabolism. Methods: three hundred and forty-two adult subjects participated in the study. A validated food-frequency questionnaire was applied to establish the dairy intake. Clinical-pathological and anthropometric variables (height, weight, waist circumference and serum concentrations of blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c], high sensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFα], interleukin [IL] 6 and IL-10) were measured. Consumption tertiles were calculated for each dairy subgroup. Correlation coefficients, multiple linear regression models and logistic regression models were used to assess the relation between dairy product consumption and markers of glucose metabolism. Results: a negative correlation was observed between the consumption of fermented dairy products and IL-10 (r = -0.27, p = 0.0206). Fermented dairy products were inversely associated with blood glucose, and HbA1c. Total dairy intake was positively associated with a lower chance of having diabetes in tertiles 2 and 3 of consumption, in relation to the reference tertile, adjusted for age, smoking habit, and alcohol intake, body mass index (BMI) and dietary variables. Conclusions: with this study, we broaden our understanding of the role of dairy intake in diabetes risk. However, more long-term studies are needed to confirm the associations and explore different confounding factors.

Fermented foods and cardiometabolic health: Definitions, current evidence, and future perspectives

Unhealthy diets contribute to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. Annually, over 11 million deaths worldwide are attributed to dietary risk factors, with the vast majority of deaths resulting from cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) including cardiovascular disease (∼10 million) and type II diabetes (∼339,000). As such, defining diets and dietary patterns that mitigate CMD risk is of great public health importance. Recently, the consumption of fermented foods has emerged as an important dietary strategy for improving cardiometabolic health. Fermented foods have been present in the human diet for over 10,000 years, but knowledge on whether their consumption benefits human health, and the molecular and microbiological mechanisms underpinning their purported health benefits, is relatively nascent. This review provides an overview of the definitions of fermented foods, types and qualities of fermented foods consumed in Europe and globally, possible mechanisms between the consumption of fermented foods and cardiometabolic health, as well as the current state of the epidemiological evidence on fermented food intake and cardiometabolic health. Finally, we outline future perspectives and opportunities for improving the role of fermented foods in human diets.

Milk-Fat Intake and Differences in Abdominal Adiposity and BMI: Evidence Based on 13,544 Randomly-Selected Adults

The primary purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the relationship between milk-fat intake and obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, in 13,544 U.S. adults. A lesser objective was to measure the degree to which the association was influenced by multiple potential confounding variables. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2011-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Quantity of milk-fat regularly consumed was the exposure variable. Sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), a measure of abdominal obesity, and body mass index (BMI) were the outcome variables. Sagittal abdominal diameter is a strong predictor of visceral abdominal fat, when measured by computed tomography, and has been shown to predict cardiometabolic disorders better than BMI. After controlling for age, race, gender, physical activity, leisure computer use and gaming, alcohol habits, and cigarette use, significantly lower BMIs were associated with consistent non-fat and full-fat milk consumption (F = 4.1, p = 0.0063). A significantly lower SAD was associated only with regular consumption of non-fat milk (F = 5.0, p = 0.0019). No significant differences were detected between the other milk-fat groups or milk abstainers. In this nationally representative sample, only 19.6% of adults regularly consumed low-fat milk. In conclusion, consistent non-fat milk intake was predictive of lower levels of abdominal adiposity compared to consumption of higher levels of milk-fat.

When Industrial Policies Conflict With Population Health: Potential Impact of Removing Food Subsidies on Obesity Rates

OBJECTIVES

To model the potential impact on obesity of removing butter, cheese, and sugar subsidies in the Canary Islands.

METHODS

A simulation model was applied based on a local data set of subsidies and retail prices (2007-2016), data on own-price elasticity estimates, and representative nutritional and health surveys. We estimated marginal obesity prevalence and population attributable fraction to assess the potential impact of the butter, cheese, and sugar subsidies intervention.

RESULTS

The intervention was predicted to avoid 10 363 obese adults over the study period, because of the reduction of the obesity prevalence by -0.7 percentage points. Overall, the predicted effect was largest in elderly and male groups, although females with a low socioeconomic status experienced the greatest decrease in the prevalence. The population attributable fraction predicted that 4.0% of population with obesity were attributable to the existence of these subsidies.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis provides policy makers with the predicted impact on obesity of the butter, cheese, and sugar subsidies disposal, enabling them to incorporate this health impact into decision making across policy areas in the economic and health field. This study aims to model the potential impact on obesity of removing industrial subsidies for butter, cheese and sugar in the Canary Islands.

Aflatoxins in Milk and Dairy Products: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment for the Serbian Population

The main objective of this study was to assess the exposure associated with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) of the adult population in Serbia from consumption of milk and dairy products. This assessment was performed using concentration values of AFM1 in raw milk (385 samples) and dairy products (556 samples) based on the analyses conducted in the period between 2015 and 2018. In parallel, a dairy products consumption survey was completed during 2018 based on ‘one-day’ and ‘seven-day’ recall methods. In order to estimate the intake of AFM1 from the consumption of dairy products for both recall methods, a Monte Carlo simulation was conducted. The study revealed that pasteurized milk and yogurt are dairy products mostly consumed by the Serbian adult population. Estimated daily intake of AFM1 was in the range of 62–74 × 10−3 ng/kg bw/day, depending on the recall methods and scenarios employed. Although the results show moderate exposure risks compared to similar studies worldwide, climatic conditions and weather extremes that have occurred recently may have negatively influenced the contamination of feed and, consequently, AFM1 contamination of milk. As a result, it is justifiable to promote continuous monitoring in feed and dairy supply chains in Serbia and provide an update of exposure assessment.

[Relationship between pattern of food consumption and body composition in university students: a cross-sectional study]

Introduction

Introduction: young university students face a social dynamics that has generated complex lifestyles and, especially, an imbalance in the intake of macro and micronutrients, characterized by having a high caloric density intake, which results in significant excess of weight. It is unknown if these consumption patterns are related to body composition. This research aimed to determine the relationship between pattern of food consumption and body composition in university students. Method: an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study with a sample of 189 students. Sociodemographic variables obtained by a survey, body composition variables obtained by bioimpedance, and food groups and their categories obtained via a 24-hour reminder method were included. A multinomial logistic regression model was performed to explain body composition according to consumption of food groups. Results: statistically significant associations were obtained between food consumption and body composition for visceral fat and consumption of eggs, meats, sausages and grains (p = 0.024), and consumption of sugars with bone mass (p = 0.029) and muscle mass (p = 0.013). The multiple regression model showed that sugar consumption increases the risk of having visceral fat (OR = 2.71), and increases the probability of being classified as an obese person (OR = 2.55). Consumption of eggs, meats, sausages, and grains favors an acceptable percentage of visceral fat (OR = 0.14). The consumption of fruits and vegetables increases the risk of having a high percentage of water (OR = 5.41), and low fat percentage (OR = 3.60). Conclusions: the consumption of sugars seems to have a close relationship with variables of body composition such as visceral fat, bone mass, and muscle mass. The consumption of fruits and vegetables was related to a low percentage of fat; however, their consumption is proportionally related to high levels of body water. Studies to establish associations between body composition and food consumption should be carried out taking into account specific intakes in order to establish a more accurate association.

Main environmental impacts associated with production and consumption of milk and yogurt in Serbia - Monte Carlo approach

Dairy consumption studies or life cycle assessment of dairy products have been in research focus for several years providing useful information. However, limited number of studies confronted the two types of data in order to analyze environmental impacts associated with consumers. The objective of this research was to calculate these impacts, namely global warming potential (GWP), ozone depletion potential (ODP), cumulative energy demand (CED), acidification potential (AP) and eutrophication potential (EP) related to the consumption of milk and yogurt in Serbia. In the present paper, life cycle assessment study was performed using data from nine dairy farms and ten dairy plants. The system boundary applied is 'cradle-to-retail' comprising data from cow farms, raw milk transportation, processing and transportation of dairy products. In parallel, a survey on the consumption of milk and yogurt was conducted analyzing responses from 957 dairy product consumers. It was found that milk production is responsible for the emission of 1.511 kg CO2_e/kg of milk, 7.720 MJ_e/kg, 0.1363 mg R11_e/kg, 12.164 g SO_2e/kg and 17.825 g PO_4e/kg while the results for yogurt are slightly higher 1.672 kg CO2_e/kg, 7.804 7.720 MJ_e/kg, 0.1369 mg R11_e/kg, 12.238 g SO_2e/kg and 17.609 g PO_4e/kg. Further calculations also revealed that weekly emission of GWP, CED, ODP, AP and EP associated with an average consumer of milk and/or yogurt in Serbia was estimated at values of 2.254 kg CO_2e/week, 10.926 MJ_e/week, 0.19261 mg R11_e/week, 17.191 g SO_2e/week and 24.363 g PO_4e/week. These results may be of interest to all actors in the dairy chain giving them a wider perspective of sustainable consumption of dairy products.

Effects of Full-Fat and Fermented Dairy Products on Cardiometabolic Disease: Food Is More Than the Sum of Its Parts

Current dietary recommendations to limit consumption of saturated fat are largely based on early nutrition studies demonstrating a direct link between dietary saturated fat, elevated blood cholesterol levels, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. As full-fat dairy products are rich in saturated fat, these dietary guidelines recommend consumption of fat-free or low-fat dairy products in place of full-fat dairy. However, dairy products vary greatly in both their nutrient content and their bioactive ingredients, and research increasingly highlights the importance of focusing on whole foods (i.e., the food matrix) as opposed to single nutrients, such as saturated fat. In fact, the weight of evidence from recent large and well-controlled studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses of both observational studies and randomized controlled trials indicates that full-fat dairy products, particularly yogurt and cheese, do not exert the detrimental effects on insulin sensitivity, blood lipid profile, and blood pressure as previously predicted on the basis of their sodium and saturated fat contents; they do not increase cardiometabolic disease risk and may in fact protect against cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Although more research is warranted to adjust for possible confounding factors and to better understand the mechanisms of action of dairy products on health outcomes, it becomes increasingly clear that the recommendation to restrict dietary saturated fat to reduce risk of cardiometabolic disease is getting outdated. Therefore, the suggestion to restrict or eliminate full-fat dairy from the diet may not be the optimal strategy for reducing cardiometabolic disease risk and should be re-evaluated in light of recent evidence.

Potential Biomarkers for Fat from Dairy and Fish and Their Association with Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Cross-sectional Data from the LifeLines Biobank and Cohort Study

Dairy fat intake, reflected by the biomarkers C14:0, C15:0, C17:0, trans-C16:1 (n-7), trans-C18:1 (n-7) and CLA, may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. It has, however, been questioned whether this association is genuine, since C15:0 and C17:0 are also biomarkers from fish. We investigated whether the above biomarkers are reliable markers for dairy fat intake in 864 healthy subjects. Subsequently, we explored the association between these biomarkers and cardiovascular risk factors. Intakes of dairy and fish were determined by Food Frequency Questionnaires FFQs. Fatty acids were analyzed in plasma triglycerides (TG) and phospholipids (PL). Median intakes of dairy and fish fat were 12.3 (8.4–17.4) g/day and 1.14 (0.53–1.75) g/day. All fatty acids, except TG C17:0, were associated with dairy fat (std.β range TG: 0.12 for C14:0 till 0.25 for C15:0 and Trans-C18:1 (n-7); and std.β range PL: 0.12 for C17:0 and Trans-C16:1 (n-7) till 0.24 for Trans-C18:1 (n-7) and CLA; p < 0.001). TG C17:0 was associated with fish fat (std.β = 0.08; p = 0.03), whereas PL C17:0 was not. Associations remained after adjustment for fish/dairy fat intake. Strongest inverse associations with biological variables were found with PL C17:0 and Trans-C18:1 (n-7) (Std.βs: waist circumference: −0.18, p < 0.001 and −0.10, p < 0.05; BMI: −0.17, p < 0.001, −0.11, p < 0.01; glucose: −0.10, p <0.01 and −0.08, p <0.05; high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP): −0.22, p < 0.001 and −0.16, p < 0.01; uric acid: −0.27, p < 0.001 and −0.24, p < 0.001). In conclusion, fatty acid biomarkers, except plasma TG C17:0, were associated with dairy fat intake, independent of fish fat intake. PL C17:0 and trans-C18:1 (n-7) were inversely associated with adiposity, diabetes, inflammation and uric acid.

Adequacy of dairy product intake among children in Kuwait using a short dietary assessment questionnaire

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the consumption of dairy products in Kuwaiti children, and develop and validate a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to measure dairy product consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was based on a sample of child–parent dyads (n= 150). A dietary assessment questionnaire on local dairy products consumed by preschool and preadolescent children was developed. Serving and portion sizes were evaluated on the basis of the guidelines of the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Academy of Pediatrics to calculate median intake levels of three age groups (3-5, 6-8 and 9-11 years).

Findings

All children met or exceeded the recommended daily servings of dairy products for their age and sex. Dairy product intake was often from processed dairy including milk-based desserts, flavored milk and cheese. Compared to boys, girls consumed more yogurt (15.5 per cent vs 14.2 per cent,p= 0.001) and milk-based desserts (15.5 vs 14.3,p= 0.001). In boys, flavored milk contributed more to the total dairy intake than in girls, especially in 6-8-year-olds (21.8 per cent vs 18.9 per cent,p= 0.021). Weight status was not associated with dairy product intake in either sex.

Originality/value

This is the first study that quantifies dairy product consumption in Kuwaiti children and provides insight into sex-specific trends in dairy product selection. The findings of this study may help in investigating relationships between dairy product consumption in children and disease risk factors, and are important for the development of local dietary guidelines for children.

Lactose Intolerance, Dairy Avoidance, and Treatment Options

Lactose intolerance refers to symptoms related to the consumption of lactose-containing dairy foods, which are the most common source for this disaccharide. While four causes are described, the most common is the genetically-determined adult onset lactose maldigestion due to loss of intestinal lactase governed by control of the gene by a 14,000 kb promoter region on chromosome 2. Gastrointestinal symptoms from lactose have expanded to include systemic effects and have also been confounded by other food intolerances or functional gastrointestinal disorders. Partly because lactose maldigestion is often interpreted as lactose intolerance (symptoms), focus of therapy for these symptoms starts with lactose restriction. However, withholding of dairy foods completely is not appropriate due to a more favorable impact on health. Industrial efforts to substitute with plant-based products is not completely successful at this time. This narrative article reviews the complexities of the perception of lactose intolerance, its epidemiology, and pathogenesis. Treatments are discussed, including the inappropriateness of dairy avoidance. In conjunction, effects of dairy products on 19 common diseases are reviewed. Different methods of treatment, lactose-reduced products, plant-based dairy substitutes, adaptation, prebiotics, exogenous lactase, probiotics, and some other dietary interventions are further discussed.

Fermented dairy products, diet quality, and cardio-metabolic profile of a Mediterranean cohort at high cardiovascular risk

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Fermented dairy products have been associated with a better diet quality and cardio-metabolic profile. However, in Mediterranean populations, these associations have not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to assess the diet quality and the associations between the consumption of total fermented dairy products and their subtypes and the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) components in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Baseline cross-sectional analyses were conducted on 6,572 men and women (mean age: 65 years) with overweight or obesity and MetS recruited into the PREDIMED-Plus cohort. A 143-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used, and anthropometrical, biochemical, and blood pressure measurements were recorded. Multivariate-adjusted Cox regressions were fitted to analyze the association between quartiles of consumption of fermented dairy products and their subtypes and MetS components to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Participants who were high consumers of fermented dairy products reported a higher consumption of fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, and whole bread and a lower consumption of white bread, alcohol, and cookies. Participants in the higher quartile showed a lower prevalence of the low HDL-cholesterol component of the MetS (RR=0.88; 95% CI: 0.78-0.98) than those in the lowest quartile of cheese consumption. Cheese consumption was inversely associated with the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia. Total fermented dairy products, yogurt, and its types were not associated with any of the MetS components.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to nonconsumers, participants consuming fermented dairy products reported a better diet quality and, particularly, cheese consumers presented a lower prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterol plasma levels, which are MetS components.