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Health & Nutrition News Alert

September - October 2003 (Vol. 7 No. 5)

Lactose Intolerance May Mean Bone Loss
Adults who limit dairy consumption because of lactose intolerance tend to get less calcium and Vitamin D in their diets than others and are prone to osteoporosis as a result. So concluded Israeli researchers who studied 66 lactose intolerant adults. The study tested the hypothesis that long term low calcium intake impairs bone metabolism in all age groups. Results showed that low calcium intakes and low vitamin D status were associated with increased bone turnover and decreased bone density, particularly in postmenopausal women and men. The authors recommend that, “a decrease in bone mass in lactose intolerant patients should be diagnosed and corrected by proper diet or pharmacological supplements in all age groups,” rather than waiting until later in life when preventive therapy may be less effective.

Segal, E. et al. Bone density in axial and appendicular skeleton in patients with lactose intolerance: Influence of calcium intake and vitamin D status. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2003; 201-207.

{Editor’s Note: The researchers noted fermented dairy products such as yogurt are well tolerated by lactose intolerant persons and should be considered an important source of calcium. One, eight-ounce carton of flavored yogurt contains 350 mg of calcium.}

Dairy Can Be Enjoyed By All Ethnic Groups
There is no scientific justification for the claim that dairy products can be harmful to certain ethnic groups, according to an internationally renowned panel of scientific experts in lactose digestion that includes Dr. Noel Solomons, Dr. Robert Heaney, Dr. Michael Levitt, Dr. Jorge Rosado and Dr. Dennis Savaiano. In a Nutrition Today article summarizing their collective opinions, the experts confirmed that managing lactose intolerance is a straightforward and reliable process and that eliminating dairy foods is rarely necessary. The article notes that many special interest group claims regarding dairy foods are scientifically unfounded, reflecting the goal of advancing animal rights rather than human health.

Moore, BJ. Dairy Foods: Are they politically correct? Update on the politics and policy affecting milk. Nutrition Today . 2003; 38 (3):82-91.

{Editor’s note: Practical suggestions for managing lactose intolerance without eliminating dairy foods can be found on the attached tip sheet.}

Moderate, Regular Eating Decreases Obesity Risk
People who think they can lose weight by skipping meals need to think again. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology shows that people who eat more frequently during the day have almost half the incidence of obesity than people who eat less often. About 500 people were asked to recall their diets five times over one year. Those who eat four or more times daily (generally three meals and a snack) were 45 percent less likely to be obese. People who regularly skipped breakfast were 450 percent more likely to be obese. Analyses were adjusted for total energy intake and physical activity. There was no indication that eating at night contributed to greater weight, after taking into account total calories. Eating breakfast or dinner away from home was also associated with greater weight, potentially due to larger portions and more fat in restaurant food.

Yunsheng, et al. Association between eating patterns and obesity in a free-living US adult population. American Journal of Epidemiology . 2003; 158(1):85-92.

Kids Experience Asthma Symptoms Less Often When They Drink Milk
A study of 2,978 preschoolers in the Netherlands found that frequent consumption of products containing milkfat is associated with a reduced risk of asthma symptoms. This prospective study investigated the relationship of food consumption at two years of age to the presence of asthma symptoms reported at age three, using a food frequency questionnaire. Daily consumption of whole milk (including full-fat yogurt and chocolate milk) and butter were significantly associated with low rates of asthma and wheeze. Daily (vs. rarely) consuming whole milk products was associated with a 41 percent reduction in asthma symptoms and daily (vs. rarely) consuming butter was associated with a 72 percent reduction in symptoms. Authors say these findings are consistent with those from other studies.

Wijga AH, et al. Association of consumption of products containing milk fat with reduced asthma risk in pre-school children: the PIAMA birth cohort study. Thorax . 2003; 58: 567-572.

{Editor’s Note: With the increase in the prevalence of asthma, it’s important to know that adding specific foods that are kid-friendly favorites like whole milk, chocolate milk and yogurt to the diet can improve symptoms.}

People Who Eat Dairy May Live Longer
Researchers in Japan had previously reported that centenarians (persons >100 years old) in Tokyo prefer dairy products, so they hypothesized that dietary preferences may be associated with longevity. They had identified 104 centenarians in 1992-1999 to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and further survival and how survival was also influenced by the ability to perform activities of daily living, cognitive function, nutritional status and presence of disease. Using cluster analysis, the researchers identified four dietary patterns: a pattern preferring vegetables, dairy products, beverages or cereals. In 2001, 28 centenarians were still alive. Of the four dietary patterns, those preferring dairy foods (primarily milk and yogurt) had the highest survival rate. The authors note that milk and yogurt are rich in calcium and vitamin B2 (riboflavin); calcium regulates blood pressure and helps prevent osteoporosis, while riboflavin helps protect tissues from oxidative damage.

Shimizu K, et al. Journal of Nutrition Science Vitaminol , 2003; 49: 133-138. (in Japanese with English summary).

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You can rely on the National Dairy Council and the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of (ADA/DC) Nebraska for credible, up-to-date news on dairy nutrition research, public policies on nutritional issues and special dairy nutrition campaigns. Please browse the Nutrition/Health Research tab for more information. If you need addition information or would like to schedule an interview, please contact Director of Nutrition Education Jennifer Meyer at (402) 592-3355 or toll free at (888) NEB-MILK.