No link between taking milk and being fat: Study

Milk

The presence of the genetic variation that allowed for the digestion of lactose was a common feature in all people who consumed higher levels of milk.

Photo credit: Fotosearch

What you need to know:

  • The researchers examined the variation in the lactase gene that is associated with the digestion of milk sugars
  • The study of two million people was conducted by researchers from the University of Reading

There is no direct link between consumption of milk and increased levels of cholesterol, a study has found.

According to Dr Vimal Karani, the professor of Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics at the University of Reading who led the study, people who drank high amounts of milk regularly had lower levels of both good and bad cholesterol.

However, their body mass index (BMI) levels will tend to be higher than people who do not drink milk.

Prof Karani and his team of researchers also discovered that people who took milk regularly had a lower risk of coronary heart disease than those who did not.

The study of two million people was conducted by researchers from the University of Reading.

The researchers examined the variation in the lactase gene that is associated with the digestion of milk sugars also known as lactose.

Good cholesterol

The presence of the genetic variation that allowed for the digestion of lactose was a common feature in all people who consumed higher levels of milk.

“We found that among people with a genetic variation that was associated with higher milk intake, there was higher BMI, body fat and lower levels of good and bad cholesterol. People with this genetic variation also had reduced risk of developing coronary heart disease,” said Prof Karani.

The findings of this research were published in the International Journal of Obesity.