Posted on 06/26/2008 1:39:54 PM PDT by blam
New research links drinking lowfat milk to lower risk for heart disease
Grabbing as little as one glass of lowfat or fat free milk could help protect your heart, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers found that adults who had at least one serving of lowfat milk or milk products each day had 37 percent lower odds of poor kidney function linked to heart disease compared to those who drank little or no lowfat milk.
To determine heart disease risk, researchers from several universities in the United States and Norway measured the kidney function of more than 5,000 older adults ages 45 to 84. They tracked eating patterns and tested albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) – a measure that when too low, can indicate poor kidney function and an extremely high risk for cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association.
Researchers found that people who reported consuming more lowfat milk and milk products had lower ACR, or healthier kidney function. In fact, lowfat milk and milk products was the only food group evaluated that on its own, was significantly linked to a reduced risk for kidney dysfunction. The study authors cited other research suggesting milk protein, vitamin D, magnesium and calcium may contribute to milk's potential heart health benefits.
An overall healthy diet, including lowfat milk and milk products, whole grains, fruits and vegetables was also associated with a benefit – 20 percent lower ACR or healthier kidney function.
The National Kidney Foundation estimates that kidney disease affects about 26 million Americans – and kidney disease is both a cause and a consequence of cardiovascular disease, the number one killer of Americans. An estimated one out of three adults is currently living with some form of cardiovascular disease.
Milk provides nine essential nutrients, including calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, protein and potassium. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend drinking three glasses of lowfat or fat free milk each day.
Source: Weber Shandwick Worldwide
The report makes no mention of those who consume “high fat”, or regular milk. There’s a lot of evidence that regular milk is better for you which is often given anecdotal support by the fact that farmers feed low fat milk (which makes it high in milk sugars) to fatten pigs, which is just as you would expect given the dangers of too many carbohydrates.
Study shows low-fat and skim milk INCREASE risk of prostate cancer while whole milk DECREASES risk of prostate cancer:
http://wgns.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/lowfat-milk-linked-to-prostate-problems/
Doesn’t the study imply that drinking milk and dairy products is good for you,? The current fad is towards lowfat milk and the authors are stressing lowfat without offering evidence for the benefit of low fat over plain milk.
I had the same question.
I’m not shooting the messenger, but am curious about the article. Weber Shandwick is a PR firm — wonder if the American Dairy Association are clients? Who is the author of the study (I am assuming they are citing a study)? Who funded the study? Just call me cynical.
I had all the watered chalk during WW2 that I ever want to see!
What is 'regular milk' depends on your perspective.
From a rural perspective, skim milk is 'regular milk'. After you milked the cow, you let the cream rise and poured it off to make butter, leaving 'regular milk'. Also sometimes called 'fresh milk'. Only recently has homogenized whole milk become 'regular milk'.
Just showing my age, not criticizing. :-)
Ya think?
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