No link between milk intake and cardiovascular diseases, says research

A research by scientists in Spain says there is no link between consumption of milk and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The research, which was carried out at the Spanish Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition, was titled “Associations of the MCM6-rs3754686 proxy for milk intake in Mediterranean and American populations with cardiovascular biomarkers, disease, and mortality.”

“Controversy persists on the association between dairy products, especially milk and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Genetic proxies may improve dairy intake estimations, and clarify diet-disease relationships,” the research report said.

The study identified a means of measuring patient intake of milk and dairy products that goes beyond the use of  a questionnaire and interview-based estimations.

Instead, the study used a new biomarker, the minichromosome maintenance complex component 6 (MCM6), that can measure food intake without relying on the patient’s account of his diet.

Using MCM6, the researchers were able to estimate dairy intake and evaluate more accurately, the relationship between lactose intolerance, dairy intake and CVD biomarkers of the 20,031 participants in the research.

According to Diary reporter, the researchers hope to carry out a follow-up study after getting sex-specific results from the research.

Contrary to previous studies, the research reports that there is no association between increased dairy intake and increased values for cardiovascular risks factors that includes cholesterol and glucose.