A new Norwegian study suggests that low-fat milk could reduce your risk of death and heart disease, while opting for whole milk might increase these risks particularly for women.
The research, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, utilised 33 years’ worth of data from Norwegian populations to establish a link between milk consumption, cardiovascular disease, and mortality.
The findings revealed that high milk consumption was generally associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, regardless of the type of milk.
Those who consumed the most milk had a 22% higher risk of mortality and a 12% higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to those who drank the least amount of milk.
However, when examining individual types of milk, it was found that whole milk was driving these negative associations. Data showed that people who consistently drank whole milk were linked to higher risks of cholesterol, death, ischemic heart disease, and cardiovascular disease.
Those who consumed the most whole milk had an 80% increased risk of sudden death from unknown causes compared to non-milk drinkers, according to News Medical.
The study also highlighted that women seemed particularly affected by their choice of drink, experiencing stronger negative effects with whole milk and more significant protective effects with low-fat milk.
Those who primarily consumed low-fat milk showed an 11% reduced mortality risk and 7% decreased cardiovascular death risk compared to whole milk drinkers.
Low-fat milk also showed no connection to heightened mortality risk when measured against people who avoided milk altogether.
The researchers determined: “In this cohort with high milk consumption, whole milk was associated with higher CVD and all-cause mortality whereas low-fat milk was not. Low-fat milk may be associated with lower risks compared with whole milk.”
Experts believe this outcome stems from elevated saturated and trans-fatty acid levels found in whole milk, both of which have been previously linked to heart disease and overall mortality rates.
The NHS states: “Much of the fat in milk and dairy foods is saturated fat. A diet high in saturated fat can also lead to raised levels of cholesterol in the blood, and this can put you at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke. For older children and adults, it’s a good idea to go for lower-fat milks because having too much saturated fat in your diet can lead to high cholesterol.”
The study authors acknowledged certain limitations of the study, noting that dietary information was self-reported and the thousands of participants only reflected a Norwegian population.
They suggested these factors might explain some of the contradictory findings. Past research has indicated that a low daily intake of milk can decrease the risk of mortality and cardiovascular events, while Nordic countries are renowned for their high consumption of milk.
The scientists have urged for future studies to delve into the reasons why milk impacts cardiovascular risk factors, as well as a more comprehensive examination of the various types of milk.