Recommended Dairy Intake: Impact on Lipid Profile and Surrogate Markers of Cholesterol Homeostasis in Healthy Adults from Two Canadian Cities

We assessed the impact of dairy intake on lipid profile and surrogate markers of cholesterol absorption, synthesis, and clearance in a free‐living, randomized, multicentre crossover trial of two 4‐wk dietary phases, DAIY and CONTROL, separated by a 4–8 wk washout, in Winnipeg and Quebec City, Canada. As part of a healthy‐style eating pattern, participants (n= 126) consumed 3 servings/d of conventional dairy products (375 ml/d low‐fat milk, 175 g/d low‐fat yogurt and 30 g/d regular cheddar cheese) or energy‐equivalent control products (290 ml/d fruit juice, 156 ml/d vegetable juice, 20 g/d cashews and 1 cookie). The DAIRY diet had no significant impact on circulating lipids, except for low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, which were slightly higher relative to the CONTROL diet (2.98 vs. 2.90 mmol/L, P =0.03). This was accompanied by a reduction in plasma phytosterols’ levels (−11.0%, P<0.001) , with no changes in lathosterol and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin‐9 (PCSK9) concentrations. These data indicate that the short‐term intake of DAIRY diet had possibly lowered cholesterol absorption, but not synthesis or clearance, in comparison to the CONTROL diet. Although plasma LDL levels were raised subsequent to the dairy consumption, the variability in the response of LDL (range: −1.29 to 1.03 mmol/L) across individuals suggested a genetic determinant. Supported by the Dairy Farmers of Canada. Grant Funding Source : Dairy Farmers of Canada