What's the average difference here between the two groups? How much more than a cup? Given the fat/cholesterol content of the Western diet, an extra cup of milk may not alter the bp/cholesterol readings appreciably. An extra bag of potato chips might not, either. That is not to say that either one contributes to good vascular health.
Also, what does "similar" mean? I gather it means that the average bp and cholesterol readings in the milk-drinking group were higher, but the differences were not statistically significant. It's a big leap from that to say that milk "combats" heart disease.
The risk of a stroke among those in the high milk intake group was 88 per cent of that of the whole group.
What other differences might one note between milk-drinkers and non milk drinkers that might account for the difference? More health-minded? Inclined to exercise? Lower salt consumption? I wonder how many factors the study controlled for: the article doesn't say.
It might interest you to know that the article the source is referencing is actually an overview of research and not the study itself - it just tangentially mentions it.
(They also do explicitly mention that the study indicated didn't control for any other factors.)
Also interesting to note that the source journal article for this 'new news' is from 2001. Unless, that is, Dr. Elwood published basically the same paper in the same journal a couple of years apart.