Milk and Dairy Product Consumption and Inflammatory Biomarkers: An Updated Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials

Higher dietary live microbe intake is associated with a lower risk of sarcopenia

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the potential association between dietary live microbe intake and sarcopenia.

METHODS

Data from 5368 participants were gathered from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Dietary information was assessed using a self-report questionnaire. The participants were categorized into low, medium, and high dietary live microbe groups. Sarcopenia was defined according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) definition (appendicular skeletal muscle mass/body mass index <0.789 for men and <0.512 for women). Multivariate regression analysis and stratified analyses were performed.

RESULTS

After adjusting for potential confounding factors, individuals in the high dietary live microbe group exhibited a lower prevalence of sarcopenia compared to those in the low dietary live microbe group. The adjusted odds ratio (with 95% confidence intervals) was 0.63 (0.44-0.89) (p for trend <0.05). Subgroup analyses indicated a potential difference in the impact of dietary live microbe intake on sarcopenia between individuals with and without diabetes (p for interaction = 0.094).

CONCLUSION

Higher dietary live microbe intake was associated with a lower risk of sarcopenia.

The Whole-Genome Sequencing and Probiotic Profiling of Lactobacillus reuteri Strain TPC32 Isolated from Tibetan Pig

Gut microbiota are the microbial organisms that play a pivotal role in intestinal health and during disease conditions. Keeping in view the characteristic functions of gut microbiota, in this study, Lactobacillus reuteri TPC32 (L. reuteri TPC32) was isolated and identified, and its whole genome was analyzed by the Illumina MiSeq sequencing platform. The results revealed that L. reuteri TPC32 had high resistance against acid and bile salts with fine in vitro antibacterial ability. Accordingly, a genome sequence of L. reuteri TPC32 has a total length of 2,214,495 base pairs with a guanine-cytosine content of 38.81%. Based on metabolic annotation, out of 2,212 protein-encoding genes, 118 and 101 were annotated to carbohydrate metabolism and metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, respectively. Similarly, drug-resistance and virulence genes were annotated using the comprehensive antibiotic research database (CARD) and the virulence factor database (VFDB), in which vatE and tetW drug-resistance genes were annotated in L. reuteri TPC32, while virulence genes are not annotated. The early prevention of L. reuteri TPC32 reduced the Salmonella typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) infection in mice. The results show that L. reuteri TPC32 could improve the serum IgM, decrease the intestinal cytokine secretion to relieve intestinal cytokine storm, reinforce the intestinal biochemical barrier function by elevating the sIgA expression, and strengthen the intestinal physical barrier function. Simultaneously, based on the 16S rRNA analysis, the L. reuteri TPC32 results affect the recovery of intestinal microbiota from disease conditions and promote the multiplication of beneficial bacteria. These results provide new insights into the biological functions and therapeutic potential of L. reuteri TPC32 for treating intestinal inflammation.

Milk and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei BL23 effects on intestinal responses in a murine model of colitis

Probiotic-containing fermented dairy foods have the potential to benefit human health, but the importance of the dairy matrix for efficacy remains unclear. We investigated the capacity of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei BL23 in phosphate-buffered saline (BL23-PBS), BL23-fermented milk (BL23-milk), and milk to modify intestinal and behavioral responses in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS, 3% wt/vol) mouse model of colitis. Significant sex-dependent differences were found such that female mice exhibited more severe colitis, greater weight loss, and higher mortality rates. Sex differences were also found for ion transport ex vivo, colonic cytokine and tight junction gene expression, and fecal microbiota composition. Measurements of milk and BL23 effects showed BL23-PBS consumption improved weight recovery in females, whereas milk resulted in better body weight recovery in males. Occludin and Claudin-2 gene transcript levels indicated barrier function was impaired in males, but BL23-milk was still found to improve colonic ion transport in those mice. Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory gene expression levels were increased in both male and female mice fed BL23, and to a more variable extent, milk, compared with controls. The female mouse fecal microbiota contained high proportions of Akkermansia (average of 18.1%) at baseline, and females exhibited more changes in gut microbiota composition following BL23 and milk intake. Male fecal microbiota harbored significantly more Parasutterella and less Blautia and Roseburia after DSS treatment, independent of BL23 or milk consumption. These findings show the complex interplay between dietary components and sex-dependent responses in mitigating inflammation in the digestive tract.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Sex-dependent responses to probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and milk and the potential of the dairy matrix to enhance probiotic protection against colitis in this context have not been previously explored. Female mice were more sensitive than males to colonic injury, and neither treatment effectively alleviated inflammation in both sexes. These sex-dependent responses may result from differences in the higher baseline proportions of Akkermansia in the gut microbiome of female mice.

Bovine milk microbiota: Key players, origins, and potential contributions to early-life gut development

BACKGROUND

Bovine milk is a significant substitute for human breast milk and holds great importance in infant nutrition and health. Apart from essential nutrients, bovine milk also contains bioactive compounds, including a microbiota derived from milk itself rather than external sources of contamination.

AIM OF REVIEW

Recognizing the profound impact of bovine milk microorganisms on future generations, our review focuses on exploring their composition, origins, functions, and applications.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

Some of the primary microorganisms found in bovine milk are also present in human milk. These microorganisms are likely transferred to the mammary gland through two pathways: the entero-mammary pathway and the rumen-mammary pathway. We also elucidated potential mechanisms by which milk microbiota contribute to infant intestinal development. The mechanisms include the enhancing of the intestinal microecological niche, promoting the maturation of immune system, strengthening the intestinal epithelial barrier function, and interacting with milk components (e.g., oligosaccharides) via cross-feeding effect. However, given the limited understanding of bovine milk microbiota, further studies are necessary to validate hypotheses regarding their origins and to explore their functions and potential applications in early intestinal development.

Mediterranean diet and a health behavior index in relation to cardiovascular biomarkers: Data from the Health and Retirement Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Although lifestyle factors have been repeatedly examined for their role on cardiovascular diseases, their composite effect has not been frequently explored. We aimed to investigate the relation of dietary patterns (DPs) and a health behavior index (HBI) with cardiovascular biomarkers.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A cross-sectional analysis with data from 3461 US residents, participants in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS), was performed. Nutritional data were obtained with a food frequency questionnaire, while adherence to Mediterranean Diet (MD) was determined by the Mediterranean Diet Score. A posteriori DPs were estimated using principal component analysis and the HBI was constructed combining adherence to MD, smoking status, physical activity levels, alcohol consumption and body mass index. Multiple linear regression models were performed to examine the relation between DPs or HBI and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), cystatin C (Cys C), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and TC:HDL in blood. Multiple linear regression showed that the "healthy" DP and the MD had a significant negative association with CRP and Cys C (p < 0.05), while the "Western-type" DP had a significant positive association with TC:HDL ratio, CRP and Cys C. Moreover, the HBI was positively associated with HDL (p < 0.05) and negatively associated with TC:HDL ratio, CRP and Cys C (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Adherence to MD and to a healthy dietary pattern was negatively associated with biomarkers of inflammation, while the HBI was associated with a better cardiometabolic profile, assessed with blood biomarkers.

The association between dairy intake in adolescents on inflammation and risk markers of type 2 diabetes during young adulthood: results of the DONALD study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this analysis was to investigate whether habitual intake of total dairy (TD) or different dairy types (liquid, solid, fermented, non-fermented, low-fat, high-fat, low-sugar and high-sugar dairy) during adolescence is associated with biomarkers of low-grade inflammation as well as risk factors of type 2 diabetes in young adulthood.

DESIGN

Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to investigate prospective associations between estimated TD intake as well as intake of different types of dairy and a pro-inflammatory score, based on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-18, leptin and adiponectin, and insulin resistance assessed as Homeostasis Model Assessment Insulin Resistance in an open-cohort study.

SETTING

Dortmund, Germany.

PARTICIPANTS

Data from participants (n 375) of the DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study were included, for whom at least two 3-d weighed dietary records during adolescence (median age: 11 years) and one blood sample in young adulthood (>18 years) were available.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant association between TD intake or intake of any dairy type and the pro-inflammatory score (all P > 0·05). TD intake as well as each dairy type intake and insulin resistance also showed no association (all P > 0·05).

CONCLUSIONS

The habitual intake of dairy or individual types of dairy during adolescence does not seem to have a major impact on low-grade systemic inflammation and insulin resistance in the long term. There was no indication regarding a restriction of dairy intake for healthy children and adolescents in terms of diabetes risk reduction.

Consumption of dairy products and odds of ulcerative colitis: An Iranian case-control study

The association between dairy product consumption and the risk of ulcerative colitis (UC) is not well elucidated. This case-control study examined the association between Iranian adults' dairy consumption and UC risk. We used a valid food frequency questionnaire to analyze dietary intakes in 340 patients with pathologically confirmed cases of UC and 782 controls as part of a case-control research. Pasteurized milk, cheese, and yogurt dietary intakes were calculated along with dairy products. Other variables were acquired using questionnaires. Study participants' mean (± SD) age and body mass index were 41.5 ± 14.1 years and 27.4 ± 4.77 kg/m2, respectively. After adjusting for potential variables, individuals who consumed more total dairy products were less likely to get UC than those who consumed less (odds ratio [OR]: 0.44; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24, 0.79). We found a significant reverse association between milk intake (OR: 0.13; 95% CI: 0.07-0.24) and yogurt intake (OR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.29-0.91) and UC, after controlling for potential confounders. Also, no significant association was found between cheese and UC risk (OR: 1.38; 95% CI: 0.84-2.28). Higher consumption of total dairy products may reduce UC risk. To be specific, milk and yogurt are inversely associated with this disorder. However, no link was found between cheese intake and UC. Longitudinal observational studies, especially cohorts, are needed to further assess these associations.

How Can Selected Dietary Ingredients Influence the Development and Progression of Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a chronic, hormone-dependent disease characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue in ectopic locations. Since the treatment options for this disease are still limited, and the cure rate is unsatisfactory, the search for ways to treat symptoms and modify the course of the disease is of key importance in improving the quality of life of patients with endometriosis. So far, the literature has shown that nutrition can influence endometriosis through hormonal modification and altering the inflammatory or oxidative response. Since the importance of nutrition in this disease is still a subject of scientific research, we aimed to summarize the current knowledge on the role of dietary modifications in endometriosis. Our review showed that nutrients with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, including most vitamins and several trace elements, may influence the pathogenesis of endometriosis and can be considered as the nutrients preventing the development of endometriosis. However, despite the many discoveries described in this review, further interdisciplinary research on this topic seems to be extremely important, as in the future, it may result in the development of personalized therapies supporting the treatment of endometriosis.

A dietary pattern of frequent plant-based foods intake reduced the associated risks for atopic dermatitis exacerbation: Insights from the Singapore/Malaysia cross-sectional genetics epidemiology cohort

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) has been increasing in recent years, especially in Asia. There is growing evidence to suggest the importance of dietary patterns in the development and management of AD. Here, we seek to understand how certain dietary patterns in a Singapore/Malaysia population are associated with various risks of AD development and exacerbation.

METHODS

A standardized questionnaire following the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) guidelines was investigator-administered to a clinically and epidemiology well-defined allergic cohort of 13,561 young Chinese adults aged 19-22. Information on their sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary habits, and personal and family medical atopic histories were obtained. Allergic sensitization was assessed by a skin prick test to mite allergens. Spearman's rank-order correlation was used to assess the correlation between the intake frequencies of 16 food types. Dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Four corresponding dietary scores were derived to examine the association of identified dietary patterns with allergic sensitization and AD exacerbations through a multivariable logistic regression that controlled for age, gender, parental eczema, BMI, and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

The correlation is the strongest between the intake of butter and margarine (R = 0.65). We identified four dietary patterns, "high-calorie foods", "plant-based foods", "meat and rice", and "probiotics, milk and eggs", and these accounted for 47.4% of the variance in the dietary habits among the subjects. Among these patterns, moderate-to-high intake of "plant-based foods" conferred a negative association for chronic (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.706; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.589-0.847; p < 0.001) and moderate-to-severe AD (AOR: 0.756; 95% CI: 0.638-0.897; p < 0.01). "Meat and rice" and "probiotics, milk and eggs" were not significantly associated with AD exacerbation. While frequent adherence to "high-calorie foods" increased the associated risks for ever AD and moderate-to-severe AD, having a higher adherence to "plant-based foods" diminished the overall associated risks.

CONCLUSIONS

Frequent adherence to "plant-based foods" was associated with reduced risks for AD exacerbation in young Chinese adults from Singapore/Malaysia. This provides the initial evidence to support the association between dietary factors and AD. Further research is needed to better understand the pathomechanisms underlying diet and AD exacerbations.

Higher milk consumption is associated with a lower risk of diabetes mellitus: A case-control study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Studies have determined that people with genetically defined lactase non-persistence have lower dairy intake that may lead to an increase risk of various non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, lactase non-persistence itself has been associated with insulin resistance. However, data on lactase non-persistence status and dairy intake in developing countries are sparse. We therefore aimed to define 1) the prevalence of lactase non-persistence among individuals with diabetes and non-diabetes in Thai population and 2) the links between lactase non-persistence, milk consumption, and risk of diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study from participants of the National Health Examination Survey. DNA was isolated from the blood for LCT -13910C>T (rs4988235) polymorphism and processed using the Bio-rad c1000 touch thermal cycler and MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry MassARRAY Typer v4.0 (Agena Bioscience, San Diego, CA, USA) at the Center for Medical Genomics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital. Cases were participants with previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus or fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL (n = 1,756) vs. the controls (n = 2,380).

RESULTS

We included 4,136 participants, 62% female, and 98.8% were > 30 years old. Homozygous CC genotype (i.e., lactase non-persistence) was noted in 98.6% and only 1.4% carried heterozygous CT. Most (76%) consumed milk <1 portion/month. Participants with either CC or CT genotype had comparable milk consumption and the risk of diabetes mellitus. Males, older adults, and lower education had a lower chance of consuming milk at least one portion per month. Besides various baseline variables, we found that higher milk consumption was associated with a lower DM risk (P = .01).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of lactase non-persistence in Thai population is very high. A significant difference in milk consumption frequency in relation to the lactase non-persistence status was not found. However, higher milk consumption is associated with a lower risk of diabetes mellitus.

No Associations between Dairy Intake and Markers of Gastrointestinal Inflammation in Healthy Adult Cohort

Dairy products are a good source of essential nutrients and past reviews have shown associations of dairy consumption with decreased systemic inflammation. Links between dairy intake and gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation are under-investigated. Therefore, we examined associations between reported dairy intake and markers of GI inflammation in healthy adults in a cross-sectional observational study, hypothesizing a negative association with yogurt intake, suggesting a protective effect, and no associations with total dairy, fluid milk, and cheese intake. Participants completed 24-h dietary recalls and a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess recent and habitual intake, respectively. Those who also provided a stool sample (n = 295), and plasma sample (n = 348) were included in analysis. Inflammation markers from stool, including calprotectin, neopterin, and myeloperoxidase, were measured along with LPS-binding protein (LBP) from plasma. Regression models tested associations between dairy intake variables and inflammation markers with covariates: age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). As yogurt is episodically consumed, we examined differences in inflammation levels between consumers (>0 cup equivalents/day reported in recalls) and non-consumers. We found no significant associations between dairy intake and markers of GI inflammation. In this cohort of healthy adults, dairy intake was not associated with GI inflammation.

Dairy products and kidney function decline after myocardial infarction: A prospective analysis in the Alpha Omega Cohort

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Population-based studies have shown both beneficial and neutral associations between dairy consumption and kidney function outcomes. We investigated the association between dairy products and kidney function decline in drug-treated post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients.

METHODS

We analysed data of 2169 post-MI patients (aged 60-80 years, 81% male) of the Alpha Omega Cohort. Dietary data were collected at baseline (2002-2006) using a validated 203-item food frequency questionnaire. The 2021 Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology (CKD-EPI) equation was used to estimate 40-months change in creatinine-cystatin C based glomerular filtration rate (eGFR_cr-cysC, mL/min per 1.73 m²). Beta coefficients and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dairy products in relation to annual eGFR_cr-cysC change were obtained from multivariable linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, energy intake, and other lifestyle and dietary factors.

RESULTS

Baseline energy-adjusted median intakes were 64 g/day for total milk, 20 g/day for hard cheeses, 18 g/day for plain yogurt, and 70 g/day for dairy desserts. Mean ± SD eGFR_cr-cysC was 84 ± 20 (13% with CKD), and annual eGFR_cr-cysC change was -1.71 ± 3.85. In multivariable models, high vs. low intakes of total milk, cheese, and dairy desserts were not associated with annual eGFR_cr-cysC change (β_{total milk}: -0.21 [-0.60; 0.19], β_cheese: -0.08 [-0.52; 0.36], β_{dairy desserts}: -0.24 [-0.72; 0.24]). High vs. low intake of yogurt was adversely associated with annual eGFR_cr-cysC change (β_{total yogurt}: -0.50 [-0.91;-0.09]), but subsequent spline analyses showed no clear dose-response association.

CONCLUSIONS

Intakes of milk, cheese or dairy desserts were not associated with a delayed kidney function decline after MI. The observed adverse association for yogurt should be interpreted with caution. Our findings require confirmation in other cohorts of coronary heart disease patients.

High-Fat Dairy Products May Decrease the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease Incidence: A Long-Term Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

The association between consumption of dairy products and risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is under debate. We aimed to determine the potential effects of total and subtypes of dairy intake on the occurrence of CKD.

METHODS

This study was conducted within the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) on 2416 CKD-free adults. At baseline, consumption of dairy products was estimated using a validated 168-items semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CKD were calculated in tertile categories of dairy products. Also, the CKD risk was estimated with multivariable Cox regression to substitute total dairy with other dietary protein sources.

RESULTS

During 8.4 years of follow-up, the incidence rate of CKD was 21%. The participants' mean (±SD) age was 38 (±13) years and 46% were men. Dietary intakes of total dairy, low-fat dairy, and fermented dairy were not associated with CKD risk. There were significant lower risks of CKD in the highest compared to the lowest tertiles of high-fat dairy (HR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60-0.95) and high-fat milk (HR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.59-0.96). However, no significant associations were found between other categories of dairy products and CKD incidence. Substitutions of total dairy with other dietary protein sources were not associated with CKD risk.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, higher intakes of high-fat dairy and high-fat milk were associated with lower risks of CKD. No significant associations were found between other dairy products and CKD. More prospective and clinical trials are needed to clarify the issue.

Red Blood Cell Folate Modifies the Association between Serum Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Antibody Concentrations in U.S. Adolescents

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure has been associated with reduced antibody levels. Higher red blood cell (RBC) folate was previously associated with lower serum PFAS concentrations in adolescents. This study included 819 adolescents aged 12-19 years who had detectable rubella and measles antibody levels in serum from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004 and 2009-2010 cycles. We found inverse associations between serum PFOS and PFHxS and rubella antibodies, between PFOA and mumps antibodies, and between PFAS mixtures and rubella and mumps antibodies, only among adolescents with RBC folate concentrations <66th percentile (lower folate group) while not among adolescents with higher RBC folate levels (upper folate group). Specifically, per quartile increase in serum concentrations of the total PFAS mixture was associated with a 9.84% (95% CI: -15.57%, -3.74%) decrease in rubella antibody and an 8.79% (95% CI: -14.39%, -2.82%) decrease in the mumps antibody concentrations only in the lower folate group, while null associations were found for the upper folate group. If confirmed in mechanistic studies or prospective epidemiologic studies, these findings may have important implications for using folate as a mitigation measure against immune-related PFAS effects.

Evaluation of the Association between Amount and Type of Milk Consumption and Periodontitis: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2018)

This study evaluated the association between the consumption of milk and having severe periodontitis. It is based on the information from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Severe periodontitis was characterized as a community periodontal index of code 4. A total of 18,034 individual respondents (7835 men and 10,199 women) without missing values were included in this study. Adjusted odds ratios and a 95% confidence interval of periodontitis in a multivariate logistic regression model for the amount of milk consumption were 0.774 [0.633-0.945] after the adjustment of confounding factors. This trend was maintained in a subgroup analysis of males with adjusted odds ratios, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.705 [0.538-0.924]. Overall, the findings showed a negative association between Korean adults' milk consumption and the prevalence of severe periodontitis. Men with higher milk consumption were more likely to have a lower prevalence of severe periodontitis regardless of age, body mass index, smoking or drinking habits, education, income, region, and physical exercise, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, white blood cell count and toothbrushing frequency. By contrast, in women, the amount of milk consumption was not significantly associated with severe periodontitis. The amount of milk consumed was discovered to be a potential risk indicator for severe periodontitis in men in this study.

Association between a Mediterranean lifestyle and growth differentiation factor 15: The seniors ENRICA-2 cohort

BACKGROUND

Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) is a marker of inflammation and oxidative stress that has been associated with multiple age-related chronic diseases. Since lifestyle is key for preventing these adverse health outcomes, we examined the association between a Mediterranean lifestyle and GDF-15 serum concentrations in Spanish older adults.

METHODS

We used cross-sectional data from 2502 older adults participating in the Seniors ENRICA-2 cohort. Adherence to the Mediterranean lifestyle was assessed with the 27-item MEDLIFE index, divided into three blocks: 1) "Mediterranean food consumption, 2) Mediterranean dietary habits, 3) Physical activity, rest, social habits, and conviviality". Analyses of the association between the MEFLIFE index and GDF-15 concentrations were performed using multivariable linear regression models adjusting for the main potential confounders.

RESULTS

The MEDLIFE index was inversely associated with GDF-15. Compared with participants in the lowest quartile of the MEDLIFE score, GDF-15 mean percentage differences (95% CI) were -3.0% (-8.0, 2.3) for the second quartile, -8.7% (-13.0, -4.1) for the third quartile, and -10.1% (-15.0, -4.9) for the fourth quartile (p-trend<0.001). Block 3 of MEDLIFE, and particularly doing sufficient physical activity, adequate sleep duration, and participating in collective sports, was individually linked to lower concentrations of GDF-15. Results remained similar after excluding participants with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, or obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

A Mediterranean lifestyle was associated with reduced levels of GDF-15, suggesting that a combination of multiple lifestyles may be an integral approach to reduce chronic inflammation and disease burden in older adults.

Dietary Patterns and New-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Evacuees after the Great East Japan Earthquake: A 7-Year Longitudinal Analysis in the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Background: Dietary patterns may be linked to the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after disasters. We investigated the association between dietary patterns and new-onset T2DM in evacuees of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident. Methods: Among the 22,740 non-diabetic participants aged 20-89 years who completed the dietary assessment in the Fukushima Health Management Survey between July 2011 and November 2012, the incidence of T2DM was evaluated until 2018. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was applied to derive dietary patterns based on a validated, short-form food frequency questionnaire. The identified dietary patterns were categorized as typical Japanese, juice, and meat. Results: The cumulative incidence of T2DM was 18.0 and 9.8 per 1000 person-years in men and women, respectively, during the follow-up period. The multiple-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of the highest vs. lowest quartile of the typical Japanese pattern scores for T2DM was 0.80 (0.68, 0.94; P for trend = 0.015) in total, 0.85 (0.68, 1.06; P for trend = 0.181) in men, and 0.76 (0.60, 0.95; P for trend = 0.04) in women. Conclusions: A typical Japanese dietary pattern may be associated with a reduced new-onset T2DM risk in evacuees, especially women, after the Great East Japan Earthquake and the FDNPP accident.

The Acute Effects of Milk Consumption on Systemic Inflammation after Combined Resistance and Plyometric Exercise in Young Adult Females

High-intensity/impact exercise elicits a transient increase in inflammatory biomarkers. Consuming nutrient-dense wholefoods, like milk, following exercise may modulate post-exercise inflammation and aid recovery. We examined the effect of post-exercise skim milk consumption (versus an isoenergetic, isovolumetric carbohydrate [CHO] drink) on acute exercise-induced inflammation in untrained females. Using a randomized crossover design, 13 healthy females (age = 20 ± 2.3 y; BMI = 21.0 ± 1.1 kg/m²) completed two bouts of combined resistance/plyometric exercise followed by either skim milk (MILK) or CHO at 5-min and 1 h post-exercise. Serum interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations were measured at pre-exercise, 15-min, 75-min, 24 h, and 48 h post-exercise. IL-6 increased 15-min post-exercise vs. all other timepoints (time effect, p = 0.017). Between 24 and 48 h, IL-10 decreased and increased in the MILK and CHO conditions, respectively (interaction, p = 0.018). There were no significant effects for IL-1β or TNF-α. Relative concentrations of IL-1β (p = 0.049) and IL-10 (p = 0.028) at 48 h post-exercise were lower in MILK vs. CHO. Milk post-exercise did not influence the absolute concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines; however, there were divergent responses for the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, and milk reduced the relative inflammatory response at 48 h (vs. CHO) for IL-1β and IL-10. This demonstrates the potential for milk to modulate inflammation post-exercise in this sample.

Periodontal disease metabolomics signatures from different biofluids: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis is resulted from a complex interaction between genetics and epigenetics, microbial factors, and the host response. Metabolomics analyses reflect both the steady-state physiological equilibrium of cells or organisms as well as their dynamic metabolic responses to environmental stimuli.

AIM OF REVIEW

This systematic review of the literature aimed to assess which low molecular weight metabolites are more often found in biological fluids of individuals with periodontitis compared to individuals with gingivitis or periodontal health.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

All the included studies employed untargeted analysis. One or more biological fluids were analyzed, including saliva (n = 14), gingival crevicular fluid (n = 6), mouthwash (n = 1), serum (n = 3) and plasma (n = 1). Fifty-six main metabolites related to periodontitis have been identified in at least two independent studies by NMR spectroscopy or MS-based metabolomics. Saliva was the main biological fluid sampled. It is noteworthy that 14 metabolites of the 56 detected were identified as main metabolites in all studies that sampled the saliva. The majority of metabolites found consistently among studies were amino acids, organic acids and derivates: acetate, alanine, butyrate, formate, GABA, lactate, propionate, phenylalanine and valine. They were either up- or down-regulated in the studies or this information was not mentioned. The main metabolic pathway was related to phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis. Metabolites more frequently found in individuals with periodontitis were related to both the host and to microorganism responses. Future studies are needed, and they should follow some methodological standards to facilitate their comparison.

Associations of fermented and non-fermented dairy consumption with serum C-reactive protein concentrations - A cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The results of epidemiological studies on dairy products and low-grade inflammation are scarce and inconsistent. Some studies have suggested that the associations may vary depending on the type of dairy product consumed. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the associations between intake of fermented and non-fermented dairy products and separately butter and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a common inflammation marker, among a population with high dairy intake.

METHODS

The study included 1338 generally healthy men aged 42-60 years and serum hs-CRP ≤10 mg/L from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factory Study, examined in 1984-1989. Dietary intakes were assessed using 4-day food records. ANCOVA and linear and logistic regression were used for analyses.

RESULTS

The reported mean intakes of fermented and non-fermented dairy products and butter were 189 (SD 217), 522 (SD 330) and 33 (SD 27) g/d, respectively. In the model adjusted for age, year of examination and energy intake (Model 1), higher intake of total dairy, total non-fermented dairy, total milk and butter were associated with higher concentration of serum hs-CRP, whereas fermented dairy intake was not associated with serum hs-CRP. After further adjustment for potential confounders, only higher butter intake remained statistically significantly associated with increased serum hs-CRP (P-trend = 0.049). The odds ratio for elevated hs-CRP (>3 mg/L) in the highest vs. the lowest quartile was 2.50 (95% confidence interval 1.19-5.26, P-trend = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that high intake of butter, but not other dairy products may be associated with increased low-grade inflammation.

Milk and Egg Are Risk Factors for Adverse Effects of Capecitabine-Based Chemotherapy in Chinese Colorectal Cancer Patients

Background:

Chemotherapy-induced adverse effects (CIAEs) remain a challenging problem due to their high incidences and negative impacts on treatment in Chinese colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We aimed to identify risk factors and predictive markers for CIAEs using food/nutrition data in CRC patients receiving post-operative capecitabine-based chemotherapy.

Methods:

Food/nutrition data from 130 Chinese CRC patients were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify CIAE-related food/nutrition factors. Prediction models were constructed based on the combination of these factors. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to evaluate the discrimination ability of models.

Results:

A total of 20 food/nutrition factors associated with CIAEs were identified in the univariate analysis after adjustments for total energy and potential confounding factors. Based on multivariate analysis, we found that, among these factors, dessert, eggs, poultry, and milk were associated with several CIAEs. Most importantly, poultry was an overall protective factor; milk and egg were risk factors for hand-foot syndrome (HFS) and bone marrow suppression (BMS), respectively. Developed multivariate models in predicting grade 1 to 3 CIAEs and grade 2/3 CIAEs both had good discrimination (AUROC values from 0.671 to 0.778, 0.750 to 0.946 respectively), which had potential clinical application value in the early prediction of CIAEs, especially for more severe CIAEs.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that patients with high milk and egg intakes should be clinically instructed to control their corresponding dietary intake to reduce the likelihood of developing HFS and BMS during capecitabine-based chemotherapy, respectively.

Trial registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03030508.

The Effects of Dietary Protein Supplementation on Exercise-Induced Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review of Human Trials

This systematic review examined the effects of whole protein and commonly consumed amino acid supplements on markers of exercise-induced inflammation and oxidative stress and was reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE and SPORTDiscus were searched from inception until June 2021. The inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials in humans, healthy adult participants (≥18 years), dietary protein/amino acid interventions, and measurements of oxidative stress/the redox status or inflammation post-exercise. The Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias 2 tool was used to critically appraise the studies. Data extracted from thirty-four studies were included in the systematic review (totaling 757 participants with only 10 females; age range 19–40 years). The included trials examined five types of whole protein and seven different amino acids supplements; most studies (n = 20) failed to identify statistically significant effects on markers of inflammation or oxidative stress after exercise; some (n = 14) showed either anti-inflammatory or antioxidant effects on some, but not all, markers. In conclusion, we found weak and inconsistent evidence that dietary protein/amino acid interventions can modify exercise-induced changes in oxidative stress and inflammation. However, given that these were not the primary outcomes in many of the included studies and many had design limitations, further research is warranted (Open Science Framework registration number: 10.17605/OSF.IO/AGUR2).

The Moo'D Study: protocol for a randomised controlled trial of A2 beta-casein only versus conventional dairy products in women with low mood

Background

Beta-casein is a major protein in cow’s milk, of which A1 and A2 are the most frequent variants. Recent evidence implicates A1 beta-casein consumption in mechanisms that are of potential importance to mental health, yet its possible effects on psychological endpoints remains unknown. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the comparative effects of consumption of dairy products containing A2 beta-casein versus conventional dairy (i.e. containing both A1 and A2 beta-casein) on symptoms of psychological distress in women with low mood.

Methods

‘The Moo’D Study’ is a 16-week, superiority, 1:1 parallel group, triple-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Ninety women with low mood (Patient Health Questionnaire score ≥ 5) will be randomised to consume either A2 beta-casein only or conventional dairy products. The primary outcome, symptoms of psychological distress, will be measured by the 21-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Secondary outcomes will include symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, severity of low mood, cognition, gut microbiota composition, gut symptomatology, markers of immune function, gut inflammation, systemic metabolites, endothelial integrity and oxidative stress, body composition, perceived wellbeing, sleep, quality of life, resource use and cost-effectiveness.

Discussion

This study will advance our understanding of the possible impact of milk proteins on psychological distress in women as well as elucidate mechanisms underpinning any association. Given dairy products form a substantial component of traditional and Western diets, the implications of these findings are likely to be of clinical and public health importance.

Trial registration

The trial protocol has been prospectively registered with the Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12618002023235. Registered on 17 December 2018.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-021-05812-6.

Gut Microbiome Diversity and Composition Are Associated with Habitual Dairy Intakes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Men

BACKGROUND

At a population level, the relation between dairy consumption and gut microbiome composition is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to study the cross-sectional associations between individual dairy foods (i.e., milk, yogurt, and cheese), as well as total dairy intake, and the gut microbiome composition in a large, representative sample of men living in south-eastern Australia.

METHODS

Data on 474 men (mean ± SD: 64.5 ± 13.5 y old) from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study were used to assess the cross-sectional association between dairy consumption and gut microbiome. Information on dairy intake was self-reported. Men were categorized as consumers and nonconsumers of milk, yogurt, cheese, and high- and low-fat milk. Milk, yogurt, and cheese intakes were summed to calculate the total dairy consumed per day and categorized into either low (<2.5 servings/d) or high (≥2.5 servings/d) total dairy groups. Fecal samples were analyzed using bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. After assessment of α and β diversity, differential abundance analysis was performed to identify bacterial taxa associated with each of milk, yogurt, and cheese consumption compared with nonconsumption, low compared with high total dairy, and low- compared with high-fat milk consumption. All analyses were adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

α Diversity was not associated with consumption of any of the dairy groups. Differences in β diversity were observed between milk and yogurt consumption compared with nonconsumption. Taxa belonging to the genera Ruminococcaceae UCG-010 and Bifidobacterium showed negative and weak positive associations with milk consumption, respectively. A taxon from the genus Streptococcus was positively associated with yogurt consumption, whereas a taxon from the genus Eisenbergiella was negatively associated with cheese consumption. No specific taxa were associated with low- compared with high-fat milk nor low compared with high total dairy consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

In men, community-level microbiome differences were observed between consumers and nonconsumers of milk and yogurt. Bacterial taxon-level associations were detected with milk, yogurt, and cheese consumption. Total dairy consumption was not associated with any microbiome measures, suggesting that individual dairy foods may have differential roles in shaping the gut microbiome in men.

Exploring the Links between Diet and Inflammation: Dairy Foods as Case Studies

Systemic chronic inflammation may be a contributing factor to many noncommunicable diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. With the rapid rise of these conditions, identifying the causes of and treatment for chronic inflammation is an important research priority, especially with regard to modifiable lifestyle factors such as diet. An emerging body of evidence indicates that consuming certain foods, including dairy foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt, may be linked to a decreased risk for inflammation. To discuss both broader research on diet and inflammation as well as research on links between individual foods and inflammation, the National Dairy Council sponsored a satellite session entitled "Exploring the Links between Diet and Inflammation: Dairy Foods as Case Studies" at the American Society for Nutrition's 2020 LIVE ONLINE Conference. This article, a review based on the topics discussed during that session, explores the links between diet and inflammation, focusing most closely on the relations between intake of dairy fat and dairy foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt, and biomarkers of inflammation from clinical trials. While there is currently insufficient evidence to prove an "anti-inflammatory" effect of dairy foods, the substantial body of clinical research discussed in this review indicates that dairy foods do not increase concentrations of biomarkers of chronic systemic inflammation.

Dairy product consumption reduces cardiovascular mortality: results after 8 year follow-up of ELSA-Brasil

PURPOSE

To investigate whether the consumption of dairy products and their subgroups is associated with the risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) after 8-year follow-up, and verify if dairy products predict changes in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) between two follow-up visits of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

METHODS

Prospective study with 6671 participants without CVD at baseline. Consumption in grams/day of total dairy, full-fat and low-fat dairy, fermented dairy, and milk was obtained through a food frequency questionnaire and categorized into sex-specific quartiles. Cox regression and linear mixed-effect models were used to estimate associations of dairy products intake with death from CVD and changes in hs-CRP levels, respectively.

RESULTS

After adjustments, individuals in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of total dairy consumption presented, respectively, 62% (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.15-0.99) and 64% (HR 0.36; 95% CI 0.14-0.94) lower hazards of death from CVD compared to the 1st quartile. Also, participants in the 4th quartile of milk consumption had 66% (HR 0.34; 95% CI 0.14-0.86) lower hazard to die from CVD, but only the 2nd quartile of full-fat dairy consumption indicated a lower hazard to die from CVD (HR 0.30; 95% CI 0.10-0.92). No association was observed between low-fat or fermented dairy products and cardiovascular mortality. Consumption of total dairy and their subgroups did not predict changes in hs-CRP levels after 4-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest beneficial effects of total dairy and milk, but only low-to-moderate full-fat dairy consumption, on the risk of death from CVD. Assuming true effects, public policies should encourage the consumption of dairy products, especially milk.

Digestion and Absorption of Milk Phospholipids in Newborns and Adults

Milk polar lipids provide choline, ethanolamine, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are needed for the growth and plasticity of the tissues in a suckling child. They may also inhibit cholesterol absorption by interacting with cholesterol during micelle formation. They may also have beneficial luminal, mucosal, and metabolic effects in both the neonate and the adult. The milk fat globule membrane contains large proportions of sphingomyelin (SM), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and some phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and glycosphingolipids. Large-scale technical procedures are available for the enrichment of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) in milk replacement formulations and food additives. Pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and mucosal phospholipase B digest glycero-phospholipids in the adult. In the neonate, where these enzymes may be poorly expressed, pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 probably has a more important role. Mucosal alkaline SM-ase and ceramidase catalyze the digestion of SM in both the neonate and the adult. In the mucosa, the sphingosine is converted into sphingosine-1-phosphate, which is both an intermediate in the conversion to palmitic acid and a signaling molecule. This reaction sequence also generates ethanolamine. Here, we summarize the pathways by which digestion and absorption may be linked to the biological effects of milk polar lipids. In addition to the inhibition of cholesterol absorption and the generation of lipid signals in the gut, the utilization of absorbed choline and ethanolamine for mucosal and hepatic phospholipid synthesis and the acylation of absorbed lyso-PC with polyunsaturated fatty acids to chylomicron and mucosal phospholipids are important.

Neutral Effect of Increased Dairy Product Intake, as Part of a Lifestyle Modification Program, on Cardiometabolic Health in Adolescent Girls With Overweight/Obesity: A Secondary Analysis From a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The presence of obesity and some cardiometabolic disease risk factors in childhood and adolescence track into adulthood. Intake of dairy products has been shown to be inversely related to adiposity and cardiometabolic variables in youth. However, limited research has examined cardiometabolic disease risk factors following increased dairy product consumption as part of a lifestyle modification intervention in youth with overweight/obesity. This secondary analysis aimed to determine whether 12 weeks of increased dairy consumption, as part of a lifestyle modification program, affects cardiometabolic variables in adolescent females (range: 10-18 years) with overweight/obesity (BMI > 85th centile). Methods: Participants were randomized into two groups: higher dairy intake (RDa; four servings/day [to reflect previous Canada's Food Guide recommendations]; n = 23) or low dairy intake (LDa; 0-2 servings/day; n = 23). Both RDa and LDa participated in a 12-week, eucaloric, lifestyle modification intervention consisting of exercise training, and nutritional counseling. Adiposity (percent body fat [%BF]), dietary intake, and measures of cardiometabolic health were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results: There were no significant changes over time within groups or differences over time between groups for triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), TC/HDL ratio, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, adiponectin, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (main effects of time and interactions, p > 0.05). Leptin decreased over the 12-week lifestyle intervention in both groups (main effect of time, p = 0.02). After combining the groups (n = 46), significant correlations were found between change in %BF and change in some cardiometabolic variables (HDL [r = -0.40], TC/HDL ratio [r = 0.42], LDL [r = 0.36], and TNF-α [r = 0.35], p < 0.05). After controlling for change in dairy product intake, the correlations were unchanged. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that increased dairy product consumption, as part of a lifestyle modification, weight management intervention, had a neutral effect on cardiometabolic disease risk factors in adolescent females with overweight/obesity. Change in dairy product intake did not influence the relationships between change in adiposity and change in cardiometabolic variables. Future research designed to primarily assess the effect of increased dairy product consumption on cardiometabolic disease risk factors in this population is warranted. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov; NCT#02581813.

Ingesting Yogurt Containing Lactobacillus plantarum OLL2712 Reduces Abdominal Fat Accumulation and Chronic Inflammation in Overweight Adults in a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Chronic inflammation and insulin resistance are factors that are related to obesity. We have suggested that the administration of heat-treated Lactobacillus plantarum OLL2712 (OLL2712) cells can improve glucose and lipid metabolism by suppressing chronic inflammation in mouse models and a preliminary clinical study.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether ingesting OLL2712 cells can reduce body fat accumulation and improve metabolic risk factors, in overweight, healthy adults.

METHODS

This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial conducted at a single center in Japan. The study participants included 100 overweight (BMI range, ≥25 to <30 kg/m2) adults aged 20-64 y. They were randomly assigned to either the placebo or OLL2712 group (n = 50 each) and were administered conventional yogurt or yogurt containing >5 × 109 heat-treated OLL2712 cells, respectively, daily for 12 wk. The primary outcome was the 12-wk change in the abdominal fat area, as assessed by computed tomography, and the secondary outcomes were glucose and lipid metabolism-related parameters and chronic inflammation markers, which were analyzed using a linear mixed model.

RESULTS

The 12-wk change of abdominal fat area (difference: 8.5 cm2; 95% CI: 0.3, 16.6 cm2; P = 0.040) and fasting plasma glucose (difference: 3.2 mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.8, 5.6 mg/dL; P = 0.021) were significantly less in the OLL2712 group than the placebo group. The overall trend of serum IL-6 was significantly decreased in the OLL2712 group compared with baseline and the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

The ingestion of heat-treated OLL2712 cells reduces body fat accumulation and the deterioration of glycemic control and chronic inflammation, in overweight, healthy adults. We hypothesize that OLL2712 cells may prevent obesity by regulating chronic inflammation. This trial was registered at the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry as UMIN000027709.

Milk consumption and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses in humans

In order to recapitulate the best available evidence of milk consumption and multiple health-related outcomes, we performed an umbrella review of meta-analyses and systematic reviews in humans. Totally, 41 meta-analyses with 45 unique health outcomes were included. Milk consumption was more often related to benefits than harm to a sequence of health-related outcomes. Dose–response analyses indicated that an increment of 200 ml (approximately 1 cup) milk intake per day was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, hypertension, colorectal cancer, metabolic syndrome, obesity and osteoporosis. Beneficial associations were also found for type 2 diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease. Conversely, milk intake might be associated with higher risk of prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease, acne and Fe-deficiency anaemia in infancy. Potential allergy or lactose intolerance need for caution. Milk consumption does more good than harm for human health in this umbrella review. Our results support milk consumption as part of a healthy diet. More well-designed randomized controlled trials are warranted.

Menopause Delays the Typical Recovery of Pre-Exercise Hepcidin Levels after High-Intensity Interval Running Exercise in Endurance-Trained Women

Menopause commonly presents the gradual accumulation of iron in the body over the years, which is a risk factor for diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, or cardiovascular diseases. Running exercise is known to acutely increase hepcidin levels, which reduces iron absorption and recycling. As this fact has not been studied in postmenopausal women, this study investigated the hepcidin response to running exercise in this population. Thirteen endurance-trained postmenopausal women (age: 51.5 ± 3.89 years; height: 161.8 ± 4.9 cm; body mass: 55.9 ± 3.6 kg; body fat: 24.7 ± 4.2%; peak oxygen consumption: 42.4 ± 4.0 mL·min^-1·kg^-1) performed a high-intensity interval running protocol, which consisted of 8 × 3 min bouts at 85% of the maximal aerobic speed with 90-second recovery. Blood samples were collected pre-exercise, 0, 3, and 24 hours post-exercise. As expected, hepcidin exhibited higher values at 3 hours post-exercise (3.69 ± 3.38 nmol/L), but also at 24 hours post-exercise (3.25 ± 3.61 nmol/L), in comparison with pre-exercise (1.77 ± 1.74 nmol/L; p = 0.023 and p = 0.020, respectively) and 0 hour post-exercise (2.05 ± 2.00 nmol/L; p = 0.021 and p = 0.032, respectively) concentrations. These differences were preceded by a significant increment of interleukin-6 at 0 hour post-exercise (3.41 ± 1.60 pg/mL) compared to pre-exercise (1.65 ± 0.48 pg/m, p = 0.003), 3 hours (1.50 ± 0.00 pg/mL, p = 0.002) and 24 hours post-exercise (1.52 ± 0.07 pg/mL, p = 0.001). Hepcidin peaked at 3 hours post-exercise as the literature described for premenopausal women but does not seem to be fully recovered to pre-exercise levels within 24 hours post-exercise, as it would be expected. This suggests a slower recovery of basal hepcidin levels in postmenopausal women, suggesting interesting applications in order to modify iron homeostasis as appropriate, such as the prevention of iron accumulation or proper timing of iron supplementation.

Should There Be a Recommended Daily Intake of Microbes?

The collective findings from human microbiome research, randomized controlled trials on specific microbes (i.e., probiotics), and associative studies of fermented dairy consumption provide evidence for the beneficial effects of the regular consumption of safe live microbes. To test the hypothesis that the inclusion of safe, live microbes in the diet supports and improves health, we propose assessment of the types and evidentiary quality of the data available on microbe intake, including the assembly and evaluation of evidence available from dietary databases. Such an analysis would help to identify gaps in the evidence needed to test this hypothesis, which can then be used to formulate and direct initiatives focused on prospective and randomized controlled trials on live microbe consumption. Outcomes will establish whether or not the evidence exists, or can be generated, to support the establishment of dietary recommendations for live microbes.

The Associations between Dairy Product Consumption and Biomarkers of Inflammation, Adipocytokines, and Oxidative Stress in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

The association between dairy product consumption and biomarkers of inflammation, adipocytokines, and oxidative stress is poorly studied in children. Therefore, these associations were examined in a representative subsample of 1338 schoolchildren with a mean age of 11.5 (±0.7) years in the Healthy Growth Study. Information on dairy product consumption was collected by dietary recalls. Total dairy consumption was calculated by summing the intake of milk, yogurt, and cheese. Inflammatory markers, i.e., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and adipocytokines, i.e., leptin, adiponectin, and the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were analysed. Due to the skewed distribution hs-CRP, IL-6, and leptin were log transformed. Multivariable regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity, parental education, Tanner stage, and fat mass were used to assess the associations between consumption of total dairy, milk, yogurt, cheese, and markers of inflammation, adipocytokines, oxidative stress, and adiponectin-leptin ratio. Our results showed that milk consumption was inversely associated with leptin (β: -0.101; 95% CI: -0.177, -0.025, p = 0.009) and positively associated with the adiponectin-leptin ratio (β: 0.116; 95% CI: 0.020, 0.211; p = 0.018), while total dairy, cheese, and yogurt consumption were not associated with inflammatory, adipocytokine, or antioxidant markers. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

The Effects of Dairy Product and Dairy Protein Intake on Inflammation: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Systemic inflammation is associated with obesity and chronic disease risk. Intake of dairy foods is associated with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease; however, the impact of dairy foods on inflammation is not well-established. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the effect of dairy product (milk, cheese, and yogurt) and dairy protein consumption on low-grade systemic inflammation in adults without severe inflammatory disorders. A literature search was completed in September 2019 using PubMed and CENTRAL as well as inspection of reference lists from relevant review articles. The search resulted in the identification of 27 randomized controlled trials which were included in this analysis. In the 19 trials which evaluated dairy products, 10 reported no effect of the intervention, while 8 reported a reduction in at least one biomarker of inflammation. All 8 trials that investigated dairy protein intake on markers of inflammation reported no effect of the intervention. The available literature suggests that dairy products and dairy proteins have neutral to beneficial effects on biomarkers of inflammation. Additional clinical studies designed using inflammatory biomarkers as the primary outcome are needed to fully elucidate the effects of dairy intake on inflammation.

Intake of Fermented Dairy Products Induces a Less Pro-Inflammatory Postprandial Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Gene Expression Response than Non-Fermented Dairy Products: A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial

SCOPE

It is aimed to investigate how intake of high-fat meals composed of different dairy products with a similar fat content affects postprandial peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) expression of inflammation-related genes, as well as circulating inflammatory markers and metabolites.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Healthy subjects (n = 47) consume four different high-fat meals composed of either butter, cheese, whipped cream, or sour cream in a randomized controlled cross-over study. Fasting and postprandial PBMC gene expression, plasma metabolites, and circulating inflammatory markers are measured. Using a linear mixed model, it is found that expression of genes related to lymphocyte activation, cytokine signaling, chemokine signaling, and cell adhesion is differentially altered between the four meals. In general, intake of the fermented products cheese and sour cream reduces, while intake of the non-fermented products butter and whipped cream increases, expression of these genes. Plasma amino acid concentrations increase after intake of cheese compared to the other meals, and the amino acid changes correlate with several of the differentially altered genes.

CONCLUSION

Intake of fermented dairy products, especially cheese, induces a less inflammatory postprandial PBMC gene expression response than non-fermented dairy products. These findings may partly explain inconsistent findings in studies on health effects of dairy products.

Association of Dairy Product Consumption with Metabolic and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the LabMed Study

This study aimed to investigate the association between dairy product consumption and metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in Portuguese adolescents, and whether the association differed by weight status. A cross-sectional study was conducted during the school year 2011/2012 with 412 Portuguese adolescents (52.4% girls) in 7th and 10th grade (aged 12 to 18 years old). The World Health Organization cutoffs were used to categorize adolescents as non-overweight (NW) or overweight (OW). Blood samples were collected to analyze C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin, and adiponectin. Dairy product intake was evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire. Participants were divided by tertiles according to the amount of dairy product consumed. The associations between dairy product consumption with metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated using generalized linear regression models with logarithmic link and gamma distribution and adjusted for potential confounders. The majority of adolescents were NW (67.2%). NW adolescents had lower IL-6, CRP, and leptin concentration than their counterparts (p < 0.05, for all comparisons). Higher levels of total dairy product and milk intake were inversely associated with IL-6 (P for trend <0.05, for all) in NW adolescents, but not in OW adolescents. NW adolescents in the second tertile of yogurt consumption had lower level of IL-6 compared to those in the first tertile (p = 0.004). Our results suggest an inverse association between total dairy product and milk intake and serum concentrations of IL-6 only among NW adolescents.

Introduction and Executive Summary of the Supplement, Role of Milk and Dairy Products in Health and Prevention of Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases: A Series of Systematic Reviews

Milk and dairy products contain multiple nutrients and contribute significantly to meet the nutritional requirements for protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, selenium, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin B-12, and pantothenic acid. However, consumption of dairy is decreasing and moving away from the advised level in many countries and the potential benefits of milk and dairy products for health have come under question. This, in spite that numerous studies report health benefits associated with dairy consumption. The present supplement aims to assess and summarize scientific evidence regarding the impact of dairy intake on health and all-cause mortality, and on the prevention of diverse chronic diseases, mainly from meta-analyses of observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). There seem to positive associations between moderate maternal milk intake during pregnancy and infant birth weight, length and bone mineral content during childhood. Moreover, consumption of dairy products in older subjects may reduce the risk of frailty and decrease the risk for sarcopenia. The highest consumption of dairy products did not show a clear association with total osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture risk; however, a diminished risk of vertebral fracture was found. Analysis of the differences between high and low dairy consumption and for dose-response found no association between dairy product consumption and risk of all-cause mortality. Total and low-fat dairy consumption is associated with a reduced risk of developing metabolic syndrome and current evidence supports that consumption of dairy does not adversely affect the risk of cardiovascular outcomes and may even have a subtle protective effect. Moreover, evidence has been provided of an inverse association between the consumption of dairy products and ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction. Also, the evidence suggests that dairy consumption, particularly low-fat dairy and yogurt is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Likewise, moderate compared with medium consumption of dairy is associated lower risk for colorectal and bladder cancer and has no association with prostate cancer. Finally, consumption of milk or dairy products did not show a proinflammatory effect on healthy subjects, overweight/obese individuals, or individuals with other metabolic abnormalities, and fortification of dairy products with phytosterols and ω-3 fatty acids seems to be a good approach to improve cardiometabolic risk biomarkers. In conclusion, the systematic reviews and meta-analyses of the present supplement support adequate milk consumption at various stages of life and in the prevention/control of various noncommunicable chronic diseases.

Milk and Dairy Product Consumption and Cardiovascular Diseases: An Overview of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

Milk and dairy products containing milk fat are major food sources of saturated fatty acids, which have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular-related clinical outcomes such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke. Therefore, current recommendations by health authorities advise consumption of low-fat or fat-free milk. Today, these recommendations are seriously questioned by meta-analyses of both prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting inconsistent results. The present study includes an overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of follow-up studies, an overview of meta-analyses involving RCTs, and an update on meta-analyses of RCTs (2013-2018) aiming to synthesize the evidence regarding the influence of dairy product consumption on the risk of major cardiovascular-related outcomes and how various doses of different dairy products affect the responses, as well as on selected biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk, i.e., blood pressure and blood lipids. The search strategies for both designs were conducted in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science databases from their inception to April 2018. From the 31 full-text articles retrieved for cohort studies, 17 met the eligibility criteria. The pooled risk ratio estimated for the association between the consumption of different dairy products at different dose-responses and cardiovascular outcomes (CVD, CHD, and stroke) showed a statistically significant negative association with RR values <1, or did not find evidence of significant association. The overview of 12 meta-analyses involving RCTs as well as the updated meta-analyses of RCTs did not result in significant changes on risk biomarkers such as systolic and diastolic blood pressure and total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Therefore, the present study states that the consumption of total dairy products, with either regular or low fat content, does not adversely affect the risk of CVD.