By Joseph E. Scherger, MD, MPH
Core Faculty, Eisenhower Health Family Medicine Residency Program, Eisenhower Health Center, La Quinta, CA; Clinical Professor, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles
There are numerous health benefits of dairy fat intake and dairy fat lacks the problems associated with dairy sugar and proteins.
Pokala A, Kraft J, Taormina VM, et al. Whole milk dairy foods and cardiometabolic health: Dairy fat and beyond. Nutr Res 2024;126:99-122.
This article is a clinical review of the evidence regarding dairy consumption and fat content. Most dairy fat is saturated and, as such, was discouraged based on a belief that saturated intake contributed to an elevated LDL cholesterol and higher risk for heart disease. That recommendation no longer holds, and consuming excess processed carbohydrates is the main contributor of dyslipidemia and heart disease.1 This clinical review states that full-fat dairy foods may contribute to improved health outcomes.2,3
COMMENTARY
Whether dairy from cows, goats, or sheep is healthy for human consumption is controversial. Some argue that human breast milk is for humans and that animal milk is for the animals. Dairy from animals is nutrient-rich and may be beneficial to babies who do not get breast milk. Milk from all sources is rich in the three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. All three warrant a discussion. The sugar lactose is well-tolerated by babies but as children grow, most will develop lactose intolerance similar to adults. The major proteins in milk are casein and whey. Casein from cow’s milk and to a lesser degree from other animals is inflammatory to humans causing rashes, colic, and other gastrointestinal distress. It turns out the best tolerated macronutrient in milk is the saturated fat, which has numerous health benefits.
REFERENCES
- Heidenreich PA, Trogdon JG, Khavjou OA, et al. Forecasting the future of cardiovascular disease in the United States: A policy statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2011;123:933-944.
- Bruno RS, Pokala A, Torres-Gonzalez M, Blesso CN. Cardiometabolic health benefits of dairy-milk polar lipids. Nutr Rev 2021;79(Suppl 2):16-35.
- Scherger JE. Welcome back, saturated fat. Internal Medicine Alert 2016;38:81-82. https://www.reliasmedia.com/articles/137997-welcome-back-saturated-fat
