Higher intake of dairy-derived saturated fats tied to lower atherogenic profile with in males

Researchers from Boston, U.S.A found that the atherogenic profile of males with higher intakes of dairy-derived saturated fats was lower than that of males with lower intakes. While such cardiometabolic outcomes were not associated with nondairy saturated fats. The findings were not the same among women.

The study results were published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  

Even though current dietary guidelines recommend limiting saturated diet intake, most do not consider that saturated fats from various food sources may have different effects on one's health. Hence researchers from the University School of Medicine, Boston conducted a prospective cohort study to evaluate the associations of saturated fats from dairy and nondairy sources with measures of body fat, inflammatory biomarkers, lipid concentrations, and lipid particle sizes and concentrations. 

The Framingham Offspring Study included 2391 participants with ≥30 years of age who had dietary records and data on the outcomes of interest. 

Results: 

• Lower multivariable-adjusted levels of body fat and larger LDL particle sizes were seen among females with those in the highest quintile of dairy-derived saturated fat [BMI (in kg/m2): 26.2 compared with 27.8, P < 0.01; and percentage fat mass: 36.7% compared with 38.0%, P = 0.09). 
• An inverse association was seen among females with triglyceride and nondairy saturated fat [(TG): HDL ratio (P = 0.03)].
• An inverse relationship was seen between dairy-derived saturated fats intake and C-reactive protein (P < 0.01), fibrinogen (P < 0.01), TGs (P < 0.01), and the TG: HDL ratio (P < 0.01) among males. 
• Males in the highest (compared with the lowest) quintile of saturated fat from dairy sources reported 2.8 mg/dL (P = 0.04) higher levels of HDL cholesterol. 
• Males with the highest intakes of dairy-derived saturated fats had larger HDL and LDL particle sizes (P < 0.01 for both), a higher HDL particle concentration (P < 0.01), and a lower VLDL particle concentration (P < 0.01). 
• No statistically significant adverse effects of saturated fats from non-dairy sources were reported on any of these outcomes in either males or females. 

Thus, lesser atherogenic profile was seen in males with higher intakes of dairy-derived saturated fats than males with lower intakes. But such effects were weaker among females. 

Further reading: Mengjie Yuan, Martha R Singer, Richard T Pickering, Lynn L Moore, Saturated fat from dairy sources is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk in the Framingham Offspring Study, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2022;, nqac224, doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/nqac224