Recent Study Challenges Recommendations to Limit Consumption of High-Fat Dairy Products
A comprehensive research endeavor conducted across 80 countries and documented in the European Heart Journal has presented findings that question the prevailing advice to curtail the intake of high-fat dairy products. The study, which scrutinized the dietary habits and health outcomes of populations worldwide, discovered a correlation between diets abundant in fruits, vegetables, full-fat dairy, nuts, legumes, and fish, and a reduced susceptibility to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and premature mortality. Interestingly, the inclusion or exclusion of unprocessed red meat and whole grains displayed minimal impact on health consequences. These outcomes imply that prioritizing the consumption of protective foods, including whole-fat dairy, may confer greater advantages compared to an exclusive focus on reducing overall fat intake.
The recent investigation, published in the European Heart Journal under the aegis of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), involved a wide array of countries spanning all inhabited continents. The study established that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole-fat dairy products, nuts, legumes, and fish were associated with decreased risks of cardiovascular ailments and early death on a global scale. The integration or omission of unprocessed red meat and whole grains did not markedly modify these observed patterns.
Dr. Andrew Mente, the lead author of the study and affiliated with the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University in Canada, noted the predominant emphasis on low-fat foods in the public discourse, food industry, and policymaking arenas. He highlighted that the study’s results advocate for a shift towards promoting protective foods such as nuts (often neglected due to their energy density), fish, and dairy, rather than excessively restricting dairy consumption, particularly that of whole-fat varieties. The research postulates that up to two daily servings of dairy, predominantly whole-fat, can be encompassed within a health-conscious diet. This assertion aligns with modern nutritional science that suggests whole-fat dairy could potentially offer protection against elevated blood pressure and metabolic syndrome.
In scrutinizing the relationship between a novel diet score and health outcomes among a globally representative population, the study generated a healthy diet score based on six food categories linked to increased longevity. The PURE diet, as designated, comprised 2-3 daily servings of fruit, 2-3 servings of vegetables per day, 3-4 servings of legumes per week, 7 weekly servings of nuts, 2-3 servings of fish per week, and 14 servings of dairy products per week (primarily whole fat, but excluding butter or whipped cream).
The diet score allocated a value of 1 (indicating a healthy intake) for consumption above the median within each category, and a value of 0 (indicating an unhealthy intake) for consumption at or below the median. This system yielded a range of scores from 0 to 6. Dr. Mente explained that individuals situated in the upper 50% of the population across all six food components achieved the highest diet score of six.
The research then probed the associations between this diet score and health outcomes, including mortality, heart attacks, strokes, and overall CVD, which encompassed fatal and non-fatal events like heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. The study encompassed 147,642 individuals from diverse nations, representing 21 countries, and accounted for factors such as age, gender, waist-to-hip ratio, education level, income, urban or rural residence, physical activity, smoking habits, diabetes status, usage of statins or high blood pressure medications, and overall energy intake.
With an average diet score of 2.95, a median follow-up duration of 9.3 years revealed 15,707 deaths and 40,764 cardiovascular incidents. Comparing the least healthy diet (score of 1 or lower) to the healthiest diet (score of 5 or higher), the latter was associated with a 30% lower mortality risk, an 18% reduced likelihood of CVD, a 14% diminished risk of heart attacks, and a 19% decreased risk of strokes. These correlations were further corroborated through analyses conducted across five separate studies, involving a cumulative 96,955 CVD patients hailing from 70 countries.
Dr. Mente underscored the unique scope of the study, which encompassed diverse demographics, encompassing generally healthy individuals, CVD patients, and those with diabetes, across economies representing high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Notably, the strongest correlations between the PURE diet and health outcomes were observed in regions characterized by poor dietary quality, such as South Asia, China, and Africa, where calorie intake predominantly relied on refined carbohydrates. This highlights the potential role of undernutrition, characterized by insufficient energy and protective food consumption, as a significant factor contributing to mortality and CVD globally.
In an editorial accompanying the study, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from Tufts University emphasized the need for a reevaluation of persisting guidelines advocating the avoidance of whole-fat dairy products. He called for the alignment of various sectors, including national nutrition guidelines, private sector initiatives, government tax policies, agricultural incentives, food procurement strategies, labeling regulations, and healthcare interventions, with the evolving scientific evidence. This, he argued, is imperative for effectively addressing the escalating prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases and safeguarding millions of lives worldwide.
Reference: “Diet, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in 80 countries” by Andrew Mente, Mahshid Dehghan, Sumathy Rangarajan, Martin O’Donnell, Weihong Hu, Gilles Dagenais, Andreas Wielgosz, Scott A. Lear, Li Wei, Rafael Diaz, Alvaro Avezum, Patricio Lopez-Jaramillo, Fernando Lanas, Sumathi Swaminathan, Manmeet Kaur, K Vijayakumar, Viswanathan Mohan, Rajeev Gupta, Andrzej Szuba, Romaina Iqbal, Rita Yusuf, Noushin Mohammadifard, Rasha Khatib, Nafiza Mat Nasir, Kubilay Karsidag, Annika Rosengren, Afzalhussein Yusufali, Edelweiss Wentzel-Viljoen, Jephat Chifamba, Antonio Dans, Khalid F Alhabib, Karen Yeates, Koon Teo, Hertzel C Gerstein and Salim Yusuf, 6 July 2023, European Heart Journal.
DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehad269
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Dietary Health
What does the recent study reveal about high-fat dairy foods?
The study spanning 80 countries suggests that diets rich in whole-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and fish are linked to reduced cardiovascular disease and early mortality risks.
What impact do unprocessed red meat and whole grains have on health outcomes?
Interestingly, the study found that the inclusion or omission of unprocessed red meat and whole grains had limited effects on health outcomes like cardiovascular disease and mortality.
What is the recommended approach towards dairy consumption?
The study suggests prioritizing protective foods like whole-fat dairy, nuts, and fish, rather than excessively restricting dairy intake. Up to two servings of whole-fat dairy a day can be beneficial for a healthy diet.
How was the healthy diet score determined?
The healthy diet score was based on six categories: fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, fish, and dairy products (mainly whole fat). Individuals above the median intake in these categories scored higher, reflecting a healthier diet.
What were the observed correlations between the diet score and health outcomes?
Comparing the healthiest diet (score of 5 or more) to the least healthy (score of 1 or less) showed a 30% lower mortality risk, 18% lower CVD likelihood, 14% lower heart attack risk, and 19% lower stroke risk.
Were the findings consistent across different populations?
Yes, the study included diverse populations worldwide, spanning high-, middle-, and low-income countries, as well as individuals with varying health conditions. The correlations between the diet and health outcomes were consistent across these groups.
How does this study challenge prevailing dietary guidelines?
The study challenges the emphasis on avoiding whole-fat dairy. The results suggest that such guidelines should be reconsidered in favor of promoting protective foods to address the growing prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases.
What is the significance of the study’s findings?
The study underscores the potential impact of dietary choices on cardiovascular health and mortality. It calls for a broader perspective on nutrition guidelines and policies to align with the evolving scientific evidence.
1 comment
mmm, study says we shud relook at whole-fat dairy advice. pols shud listen, 4 sure!