Title:Whole Milk and Full-Fat Dairy Products and Hypertensive Risks
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
Author(s): Stephen J. Roy and Hirofumi Tanaka*
Affiliation:
- Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, Cardiovascular Aging Research Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712,United States
Keywords:
Full-fat, whole fat, dairy, blood pressure, CVD, hypertension.
Abstract: Lifestyle modifications in the form of diet and exercise are generally the first-line approach
to reduce hypertensive risk and overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Accumulating research
evidence has revealed that consumption of non- and low-fat dairy products incorporated into
the routine diet is an effective means to reduce elevated blood pressure and improve vascular
functions. However, the idea of incorporating whole-fat or full-fat dairy products in the normal routine
diet as a strategy to reduce CVD risk has been met with controversy. The aim of this review
was to evaluate both sides of the argument surrounding saturated fat intake and CVD risk from the
standpoint of dairy intake. Throughout the review, we examined observational studies on relationships
between CVD risk and dairy consumption, dietary intervention studies using non-fat and
whole-fat dairy, and mechanistic studies investigating physiological mechanisms of saturated fat intake
that may help to explain increases in cardiovascular disease risk. Currently available data have
demonstrated that whole-fat dairy is unlikely to augment hypertensive risk when added to the normal
routine diet but may negatively impact CVD risk. In conclusion, whole-fat dairy may not be a
recommended alternative to non- or low-fat dairy products as a mean to reduce hypertensive or
overall CVD risk.