Choose bold

Fatty dairy products were associated with the absence of metabolic syndrome

Elizaveta Ivtushok, N+1

Scientists in a sample of 147.8 thousand residents of different countries have shown that those people who consume at least two servings of dairy products a day are less likely to be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome compared to those who do not consume dairy products at all. They are also less likely to develop diabetes and hypertension. The connection, however, is not observed if a person consumes only low-fat dairy products. The article was published in the journal BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care (Bhavadharini et al., Association of dairy consumption with metabolic syndrome, hypertension and diabetes in 147,812 individuals from 21 countries).

Since dairy products are one of the main sources of saturated fats, they are advised not to abuse them: for example, in its recent recommendation on healthy eating, the World Health Organization insisted on giving preference to low–fat dairy products. Nevertheless, large population studies indicate that consuming dairy products of normal fat content in sufficient quantities is still important – at least for the cardiovascular system.

In turn, one of the main risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases, as well as obesity and diabetes is the presence of metabolic syndrome. Scientists led by Balaji Bhavadharini from McMaster University decided to check how dairy products are related in the diet and the risk of developing this syndrome. For their analysis, they used data from a large population study, The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE): the database of this study is updated annually and contains information about the life and health of residents of 21 countries in Europe, Asia and America (Russia is not in the list of countries). At the time of the new study, information was available on 147812 men and women aged 35 to 70 years. For each participant of the study, data was available, updated on average for nine years.

To assess the relationship between dairy consumption and metabolic syndrome, scientists used data on 112,992 participants for whom information about the presence of symptoms was available: accumulation of fat in the abdominal area, blood pressure, as well as levels of sugar, fats and high-density lipoproteins in the blood. The authors found that metabolic syndrome was much less common (p<0.0001) in those who consumed at least two servings of dairy products per day – compared with those who excluded them from their diet altogether. The fat content of dairy products was important: there was no established connection among those who preferred only low-fat products (although they could be combined with products with a normal fat content).

Further, the scientists separately assessed the impact of diet on the risk of diabetes and episodic high blood pressure in the future. Among those participants who consumed at least two servings of dairy products per day (compared to those who did not eat dairy products at all), diabetes (p=0.01) and hypertension (p=0.02) were later diagnosed less frequently. Again, for the consumption of exclusively low-fat dairy products, such a relationship was not observed. 

For one serving of a dairy product in this and most other studies, for example, a glass of milk with a volume of 250 milliliters, one teaspoon of butter or two pieces of cheese of 20 grams each are considered. The study also contrasts fatty and low–fat dairy products: for example, milk with a classic 3.2-3.6 percent fat content and with a fat content of less than 1 percent.

The authors thus pointed out the link between the consumption of dairy products and the development of metabolic syndrome, diabetes and high blood pressure. However, they clarified that in order to indicate a direct link (especially a causal one), additional, randomized clinical trials will be needed.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru