Low‐fat dairy differentially improves metabolic syndrome parameters in male and female adults

We evaluated the effect of low‐fat dairy (LFD) intake on markers of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Subjects (13 male, 22 female) with low dairy intake (<1.5 ser/dairy/day) were randomly assigned to receive LFD (296 mL low‐fat milk, 170 g yogurt, 510 g cheese stick) or isocaloric control foods (CON) (42 g granola bar, 177 mL juice) daily for 6‐wk. After a 4‐wk wash‐out, subjects received the alternate diet for 6‐wk. In women, LFD lowered diastolic blood pressure vs. baseline (p =0.02). LFD decreased body weight (p=0.02) waist circumference (WC) (p < 0.01) and body mass index (p<0.01) compared to CON. Change in WC was positively associated with change in plasma glucose (r=0.496, p=0.02) and negatively correlated with small LDL particles (r= −.482, p=0.03). In men, LFD lowered (p=0.01) systolic blood pressure vs. baseline and plasma glucose was lower compared to CON (p = 0.02). LFD tended to lower plasma triglycerides (TG) (p=0.08) vs. CON and changes in TG were positively associated (r = .791, p = 0.001) with the larger, more atherogenic VLDL particles. Fat intake was not different between groups, but protein was higher (p<0.001) and carbohydrate lower (p<0.001) during LFD. Energy intake was lower for females during LFD, thus LFD may promote beneficial anthropometric changes, possibly by triggering reduced energy intake. These data suggest that LFD may differentially lower Met S markers by gender. [Supported by the Dairy Council]