Impact of Dairy Foods on the Mediterranean Diet
Overview of Heart Disease Risks
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition explored the effects of incorporating dairy foods into a Mediterranean diet. Heart disease accounts for 31% of all global deaths, and individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease often face additional health issues, such as high blood pressure, elevated bad cholesterol, obesity, and diabetes. Implementing exercise and dietary modifications can significantly reduce these risks.
The Mediterranean Diet and Calcium Intake
The Mediterranean diet is widely regarded as one of the healthiest eating patterns. It emphasizes the consumption of extra virgin olive oil, beans, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and cereals, along with moderate amounts of poultry, eggs, dairy, red wine, and fish. However, this diet may not consistently provide the recommended daily intake of calcium, primarily due to insufficient dairy consumption.
Study Design and Methodology
Researchers from the University of South Australia conducted a study to assess the health advantages of adding dairy foods to the Mediterranean diet, as suggested by the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The study took place from April to June 2016 and involved 41 volunteers aged between 45 and 75 who were at risk for heart disease. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. For the first eight weeks, Group 1 followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented with dairy foods (MedDairy) to meet dietary guidelines, while Group 2 adhered to a low-fat diet from a previous study.
During the subsequent eight weeks, both groups reverted to their normal diets before switching to the alternate diet (either MedDairy or low-fat) for the final eight weeks. Blood pressure was the primary health measure assessed, along with BMI, body composition, and diabetes risk factors. Participants also monitored their blood pressure and heart rates at home throughout the study.
Health Outcomes of the MedDairy Diet
The MedDairy diet led to significantly lower morning blood pressures, increased levels of good cholesterol, and reduced total cholesterol. In contrast, the low-fat diet resulted in decreased fat mass and increased lean mass.
Study Limitations and Considerations
Several limitations were noted in the study. The comparison was limited to the Mediterranean diet and a low-fat diet, which may affect the applicability of the findings to the broader Australian population. Additionally, the MedDairy diet employed less extra virgin olive oil than is traditionally found in Mediterranean diets, potentially diminishing cardiovascular benefits. The addition of dairy foods could also alter the positive effects typically associated with the Mediterranean diet.
Moreover, the study’s design might have introduced bias related to participant expectations. Researchers suggest that a larger and longer study could provide more comprehensive insights into the effects of dietary changes.
Conclusion and Dietary Recommendations
The findings indicate that simple dietary adjustments, such as incorporating dairy foods, increasing fruit and vegetable intake, consuming more extra virgin olive oil, fish, and eggs, while reducing red meat and processed sweets, can yield positive health outcomes. Specifically, adding three to four servings of dairy foods can enhance calcium intake and lower heart disease risk.
Written by Rebecca K. Blankenship, B.Sc.
Reference: Wade A, Davis C, Dyer K, Hodgson J, Woodman R, Murphy K. A Mediterranean diet supplemented with dairy foods improves markers of cardiovascular risk: results from the MedDairy randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2018;108(6):1166-1182. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqy207