Regular milk drinkers have lower cholesterol levels and a lower risk of heart disease than those who do not drink milk, according to a new study by researchers at University College London (UCL). The study, published in the International Journal of Obesity, analysed health data from around 1.9 million people using a genetic approach to milk consumption to avoid bias. The study found that people who regularly drink milk have lower levels of both HDL (good) and LDL (bad) cholesterol, and a lower risk of coronary heart disease (14%) compared to those who do not drink milk. The study also identified a genetic variant associated with higher milk consumption that was linked to a lower risk of heart disease and a lower incidence of type-2 diabetes.
The findings contradict previous studies that have suggested a link between higher milk consumption and metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. The UCL study suggests that reducing milk consumption may not be necessary to prevent heart disease. However, the study did find that milk drinkers had a slightly higher body mass index (BMI) and more body fat than non-milk drinkers. The researchers also noted that it is unclear whether the fat content in milk products contributes to the lower cholesterol levels or whether there is an unknown “milk factor” at play.
Lead researcher Vimal Karani said that the study’s genetic approach allowed the researchers to identify a genetic variant associated with higher milk consumption that was linked to a lower risk of heart disease and a lower incidence of type-2 diabetes. Karani said that the study’s findings suggest that milk consumption is not a significant risk factor for heart disease, despite the slight increase in BMI and body fat among milk drinkers. The study’s results provide important insights into the relationship between milk consumption and metabolic diseases, and could have implications for public health policies related to milk consumption.
