Dairy fat is safe, and may help guard against strokes.

NorthCascades
NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
edited December 19 in Food and Nutrition
The study, published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found no significant link between dairy fats and cause of death or, more specifically, heart disease and stroke – two of the country’s biggest killers often associated with a diet high in saturated fat. In fact, certain types of dairy fat may help guard against having a severe stroke, the researchers reported.

“Our findings not only support, but also significantly strengthen, the growing body of evidence which suggests that dairy fat, contrary to popular belief, does not increase risk of heart disease or overall mortality in older adults. In addition to not contributing to death, the results suggest that one fatty acid present in dairy may lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, particularly from stroke,” said Marcia Otto, Ph.D., the study’s first and corresponding author and assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences at UTHealth School of Public Health.



The study evaluated how multiple biomarkers of fatty acid present in dairy fat related to heart disease and all-cause mortality over a 22-year period. This measurement methodology, as opposed to the more commonly used self-reported consumption, gave greater and more objective insight into the impact of long-term exposure to these fatty acids, according to the report.

Nearly 3,000 adults age 65 years and older were included in the study, which measured plasma levels of three different fatty acids found in dairy products at the beginning in 1992 and again at six and 13 years later.

None of the fatty acid types were significantly associated with total mortality. In fact one type was linked to lower cardiovascular disease deaths. People with higher fatty acid levels, suggesting higher consumption of whole-fat dairy products, had a 42 percent lower risk of dying from stroke.

https://www.uth.edu/media/story.htm?id=1692785a-5886-46e8-8186-230d71b834ac

Replies

  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    I didn't even know that was something some people believed.
  • CarvedTones
    CarvedTones Posts: 2,340 Member
    Dairy fat was my primary source of saturated fat and greatly reducing it seemed to have made an impact on my LDL, but there were other potential factors muddying up the water. So I am one of those people who believed that all saturated fats would potentially raise my cholesterol.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    edited July 2018
    I believe there are many benefits to eating dairy. There may be some drawbacks as well but dairy is not the villain some people have made it out to be. I have read many studies on dairy over the years.
  • refugeefromkekistan
    refugeefromkekistan Posts: 48 Member
    edited July 2018
    People with higher fatty acid levels, suggesting higher consumption of whole-fat dairy products, had a 42 percent lower risk of dying from stroke.

    Incomplete study: They didn't disclose that 100% of those people are more fun at parties!
  • georgieamber2
    georgieamber2 Posts: 229 Member
    edited July 2018
    hahaha that's funny she's a vegan I didn't know;) drink your almond milk then...

    Oh no babes, that's awful I can't imagine how awful that must have been having a stroke.. i hope you're getting by and keep getting healthier everyday. 🙏🙏 xx
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I did an extremely short assignment for university ((because the main use was for a literature review)) but I learnt some interesting stuff. Bovine milk stimulates IGF1 (Agostoni and Turck, 2011) and excess levels can lead to cancer, most commonly of the breast, and metastasis ((Eichhorst and Krammer, 2001). Casein protein - which makes up 82% of the protein content in milk - has been linked to illnesses leading to chronic heart disease and can be seen a study by Greaves et al. 2000). I willingly choose not to consume animal products including milk for ethical reasons, however, this is just some interesting stuff I came across. x

    I would be cautious in assuming the extremely short assignment you did gave you better insight into the risk factors associated with dairy than is being in this 22-year study.

    I have not reviewed this study, so it may have issues that are not immediately apparent. But it's published in a major journal and covering a lengthy period of time. Do you have specific reasons to disregard the conclusions other than your short assignment?

    I'm just stating what I found:) im going to remove my quote about it being short from the comment. The length of my report has nothing to do with how much time went into the research and studies that I wrote about. I'm saying I chose not to consume dairy for ethics and this is just some information I found. x

    I know what you stated, I'm wondering what you think the significance of it is. It seems like you're presenting the studies you referenced for your report, which apparently required a brief period of research, as some sort of counter to this more recent 22-year study.

    Is there any particular reason to think those studies specifically contradict the claims in this more recent study or that there is some issue (either with execution or conclusions) with this more recent study? The 2000 Greaves study, for example, is on monkeys. Why would that be a better guide than this 22-year human study?

    Why can't you just accept that I'm offering another study to look at for other people who are in two minds about consuming dairy? The sources I used are valid to use at university and higher degrees... I don't care if dairy might stop me having a stroke, because like I said, I chose to not consume because of ethics. I'm just offering the alternative side and some journals relating to it for people who are on the fence.

    Plus, when I said a brief assignment, I meant it was short... not that I hadn't put any time into finding it. Drink your milk and stop replying to me:). x

    Having an ethical objection to drinking milk (an objection that I happen to share with you) doesn't require us to believe that dairy fat is unhealthy. In fact, I believe veganism is better served when we are honest and forthright about what the science actually shows. Nobody likes to feel like someone is trying to trick them or manipulate their emotions through fear. When vegans push inconclusive, incomplete, or outdated science, we run the risk of creating negative perceptions of veganism. This is why I'm discussing this here.

    This is why I love your well thought out responses.

    Thanks!

    Thank you.
  • georgieamber2
    georgieamber2 Posts: 229 Member
    I did an extremely short assignment for university ((because the main use was for a literature review)) but I learnt some interesting stuff. Bovine milk stimulates IGF1 (Agostoni and Turck, 2011) and excess levels can lead to cancer, most commonly of the breast, and metastasis ((Eichhorst and Krammer, 2001). Casein protein - which makes up 82% of the protein content in milk - has been linked to illnesses leading to chronic heart disease and can be seen a study by Greaves et al. 2000). I willingly choose not to consume animal products including milk for ethical reasons, however, this is just some interesting stuff I came across. x

    I would be cautious in assuming the extremely short assignment you did gave you better insight into the risk factors associated with dairy than is being in this 22-year study.

    I have not reviewed this study, so it may have issues that are not immediately apparent. But it's published in a major journal and covering a lengthy period of time. Do you have specific reasons to disregard the conclusions other than your short assignment?

    I'm just stating what I found:) im going to remove my quote about it being short from the comment. The length of my report has nothing to do with how much time went into the research and studies that I wrote about. I'm saying I chose not to consume dairy for ethics and this is just some information I found. x

    I know what you stated, I'm wondering what you think the significance of it is. It seems like you're presenting the studies you referenced for your report, which apparently required a brief period of research, as some sort of counter to this more recent 22-year study.

    Is there any particular reason to think those studies specifically contradict the claims in this more recent study or that there is some issue (either with execution or conclusions) with this more recent study? The 2000 Greaves study, for example, is on monkeys. Why would that be a better guide than this 22-year human study?

    Why can't you just accept that I'm offering another study to look at for other people who are in two minds about consuming dairy? The sources I used are valid to use at university and higher degrees... I don't care if dairy might stop me having a stroke, because like I said, I chose to not consume because of ethics. I'm just offering the alternative side and some journals relating to it for people who are on the fence.

    Plus, when I said a brief assignment, I meant it was short... not that I hadn't put any time into finding it. Drink your milk and stop replying to me:). x

    Having an ethical objection to drinking milk (an objection that I happen to share with you) doesn't require us to believe that dairy fat is unhealthy. In fact, I believe veganism is better served when we are honest and forthright about what the science actually shows. Nobody likes to feel like someone is trying to trick them or manipulate their emotions through fear. When vegans push inconclusive, incomplete, or outdated science, we run the risk of creating negative perceptions of veganism. This is why I'm discussing this here.

    This is why I love your well thought out responses.

    Thanks!

    Thank you.

    hey! Yeah, no I totally get you. I don't know if dairy is good or bad for you and it doesn't really bother me ((because, like you know, I don't drink it for ethics)). I was just offering another side - which is what this forum is for. I hope we can put this aside because it seems to be running round in circles. x
  • strongerbytheday
    strongerbytheday Posts: 116 Member
    I eat and drink full fat dairy and I have major IBS symptoms, if I have low fat dairy! Does anyone know why that would be??
  • WilmaValley
    WilmaValley Posts: 1,092 Member
    Really interesting article!
  • Diatonic12
    Diatonic12 Posts: 32,344 Member
    Bump. I've reread this article many times. It's a good one.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,431 MFP Moderator
    Interesting article. Pretty much aligns to the below information as well.

    https://youtu.be/Rx9lZKSACFc
This discussion has been closed.