Intake of Dairy Food is Good For Metabolic Health, Study

A new research shows that consumption of dairy food positively affects a person's metabolic health.

It is a well-documented fact that dairy products are rich in calcium and minerals that is good for bones. The dietary guidelines recommend that daily intake of 2-3 portions of milk-based products like milk, yogurt, cheese, cream and butter. In the latest study, the researchers show that diary food helps maintaining metabolic health and lowers the risk of metabolic diseases like obesity and type-2 diabetes.

To confirm these health impacts, the researchers looked at the dairy consumption of French Canadians and evaluated how it affects their overall metabolic health. The study was led by CHU de Quebec Research Center and Laval University. The main aim of the researchers was to determine the link between the two factors including the anthropometric status, plasma glucose, plasma lipid profile, inflammatory markers and blood pressure.

The researchers focused on 254 participants who were from the greater Quebec City metropolitan area. Out of these, 233 subjects met the criteria of the study indicating subjects had healthy metabolic profiles. It was noticed that on an average the subjects ate 2.5 ± 1.4 portions of dairy products per day. Nearly 45 percent of the participants failed to meet Canada's Food Guide Recommendations of 2 portions of dairy products a day. Those who had dairy intake had less blood glucose and blood pressure.

Dr. Iwona Rudkowska, a research scientist at the Endocrinology and Nephrology Department in CHU de Québec Research Center and assistant professor at the Laval University , said: "Additional well-designed intervention studies are needed to ascertain the effects of increased dairy consumption on metabolic health in healthy and in metabolically deteriorated populations."

The study was reported in Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism.