Milk and milk products consumption in relationship to serum lipid levels: a community-based study of middle-aged and older population in Japan.

The authors examined the association of milk and milk products consumption (MMPC) with serum lipid profiles including total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols (TG), HDL cholesterol (HDLC), LDL cholesterol (LDLC), and TC/HDLC ratio in a community-based sample. The study population comprised 461 men and 834 women aged 40-79 years who, in 2001, participated in an annual healthy examination and a lifestyle related survey Consumption frequency of 17 foods, including milk and milk products, was determined by a self-administered questionnaire. The participants were asked by "Do you drink cow's milk or eat milk products such as yoghurt and cheese everyday?", and two groups ("Yes" and "No") of MMPC were classified. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the relationships between MMPC and 5 serum lipid profile levels adjusted for sex, age, body mass index (BMI), alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, and fat intake. Univariate and multivariate analyses indicated inverse associations of MMPC with TC, HDLC, and LDLC, and that the "Yes" group had higher adjusted means of serum TC by 7.133 mg/100 ml (p < 0.001), HDLC by 1.844 mg/100 ml (p < 0.05), LDLC by 5.459 mg/100 ml (p < 0.001). We suggested that MMPC has an association with serum lipid and lipoprotein levels and that MMPC may have an unfavorable effect on hypercholesterolaemia in the Japanese population.