Idaho Dairy Council

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Children Benefit from Drinking Chocolate/Flavored Milk

Milk Drinkers Consume More Nutrients; Milk has No Adverse Effects on BMI

A new study released in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that children who drink flavored or plain milk consume more nutrients and have a lower or comparable body mass index (BMI – a measure of body fatness) than children who don’t drink milk.

“Milk contains many nutrients that are important for children. We learned in our research that children who drink milk, including plain and flavored milk, have higher intakes of many nutrients that are low in children’s diets, and comparable or lower BMIs compared to children who don’t drink milk,” said Mary Murphy, MS, RD, co-author of the study. “Limiting access to flavored milks in schools and elsewhere may have the undesirable effect of further reducing intakes of many essential nutrients provided by milk.”

The study compared nutrient intakes and BMIs among 7,557 U.S. children and adolescents ages 2-18 years drinking flavored milk (with or without plain milk), exclusively plain milk and no milk. All comparisons were adjusted for the amount of calories reported as well as age allowing for differences to be examined based on equal consumption of calories and age distributions.

Results showed milk drinkers (flavored and plain) had significantly higher intakes of vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium than non-milk drinkers. In addition, BMI measures of milk drinkers were comparable to or lower than measures of non-milk drinkers. Intake of added sugars did not differ between flavored milk drinkers and non-milk drinkers. Among females 12-18 years of age, average calcium intakes by flavored milk drinkers and exclusively plain milk drinkers were nearly double the calcium intakes of non-milk drinkers. Rachel Johnson, PhD, MPH, RD, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Professor of Nutrition at the University of Vermont, a co-author of the study noted, “Intakes of added sugars were comparable between flavored milk drinkers and non-milk drinkers confirming that the inclusion of flavored milk in the diet does not lead to significantly higher added sugar intakes by children and adolescents.”

Murphy et al. Drinking flavored or plain milk is positively associated with nutrient intake and is not associated with adverse effects on weight status in U.S. children and adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2008.

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Better Together: Calcium & Vitamin D May Work Together to Reduce Cancer Risk

New findings suggest that vitamin D, sometimes called the ‘sunshine vitamin,’ together with calcium, may play a role in reducing cancer risk.

Researchers at Creighton University found that supplemental calcium with vitamin D is associated with reduced risk of non-skin cancers in postmenopausal women living in rural Nebraska. In this four year double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study, 1,179 women, ages 55 or older without cancer at the start of the trial, were randomly assigned to one of three groups: calcium-only (1400-1500 mg of supplemental calcium per day), calcium plus vitamin D (1400-1500 mg calcium + 1100 IU vitamin D3 per day),or placebo. Though the study’s primary outcome was fracture incidence, a secondary outcome, the incidence of non-skin cancer, was determined using health status assessments at six-month intervals. After removing cancer cases diagnosed within the first 12 months, which may have already been present at the start of the trial, results showed a significant 77% reduction in the relative risk of cancers in the calcium plus vitamin D group compared to the placebo group. The authors note that these new findings, along with a growing body of research connecting vitamin D status to cancer outcomes, highlight the importance of improving vitamin D nutritional status.

Lappe J, et al. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007; 85: 1586-1591.

{Editor’s Note: Dairy foods such as milk are among the few foods that provide a significant source of dietary vitamin D, with one 8-ounce glass of vitamin D-fortified milk supplying 25% of the Daily Value. Some yogurts and cheeses are also fortified with Vitamin D.}

{Scientific synopsis provided by Barbara Baron, MS, RD, CDN, American Dairy Association & Dairy Council, Inc.} Top

Dairy Calcium May Help Defend Against Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among women in the United States and Europe and determining dietary factors related to breast cancer remains a top priority in nutrition research.

According to French researchers, higher total dairy consumption may have a protective effect when it comes to breast cancer risk, especially among premenopausal women. Diet records of more than 3,600 women in the French SU.VI.MAX Study were analyzed to determine total dairy and calcium intake. Results showed that higher total dairy intake was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer in all participants, and even more so in premenopausal women. A similar association was found for calcium intake, and the authors note that calcium or a correlated component is likely responsible for dairy’s protective effect in this study. The authors stated that their findings are in agreement with a recently published study that also found a reduced risk of breast cancer with increased dairy consumption among premenopausal women.

Kesse-Guyot E, et al. Dairy products, calcium and the risk of breast cancer: Results of the French SU.VI.MAX prospective study. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism. 2007; 51: 139-145.

{Scientific synopsis provided by Carolyn Hudson, RD, LD, Midwest Dairy Council} Top

Men Can Drink to Their Health: Milk May Reduce Metabolic Syndrome in Men

According to a new study, men can raise a glass, a glass of milk, that is, to good health.

A new study out of the United Kingdom shows that men who drink milk and eat dairy foods have a reduced prevalence of metabolic syndrome, as defined by the authors’ criteria. Metabolic syndrome, characterized by the presence of multiple metabolic risk factors, including high blood pressure and impaired blood sugar regulation, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Food frequency questionnaires from 2,375 men, ages 45-59 years, in the Caerphilly Cohort Study, along with 7-day diet records from a representative subset of the cohort, were used to determine total daily milk and dairy food intake. Follow up to assess disease outcomes continued every five years for approximately 20 years. Results showed that consumption of milk and dairy foods was linked to a significantly reduced prevalence of metabolic syndrome, with regular milk drinking (16 ounces or more daily) being associated with a 62% reduced prevalence. The relationship was apparent when either the food frequency data or the 7-day weighed diet record data was used. The authors noted that milk consumption has declined in the UK over the past 25 years and suggest that their findings add to the body of evidence that milk and dairy foods fit into a healthy eating pattern and should be promoted.

Elwood P, et al. Milk and dairy consumption, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome: the Caerphilly prospective study. Journal of Epidemiological and Community Health. 2007; 61: 695-698.

{Scientific synopsis provided by Barbara Baron, MS, RD, CDN, American Dairy Association & Dairy Council, Inc.} Top

Milk Wins When it Comes to Post-Exercise Rehydration

Think you need a sports drink for optimal rehydration after working out? New research shows that low-fat milk may do a better job.

Research published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that drinking low-fat milk after exercise may promote rehydration better than water or a sports drink. Eleven young, healthy subjects completed four separate trials, consisting of exercise to lose about 2% of their body weight (sweat losses) followed by consumption of one of four beverages (low-fat milk, low-fat milk with added sodium chloride, water, or a commercially available sports drink) equivalent to 150% of the fluid volume lost during exercise. Participants were monitored to determine fluid status over the following four hours. The results clearly showed that milk was more effective than water or the sports drink at replacing exercise-induced fluid losses and maintaining hydration in the post-exercise period. The authors note that milk’s natural electrolytes are likely responsible for its ability to restore fluid balance, while slower digestion due to the presence of protein and fat in milk may also play a role. Since dehydration increases cardiovascular strain and reduces exercise capacity, the authors underscore the importance of complete rehydration prior to subsequent exercise bouts.

Shirreffs S, et al. Milk as an effective post-exercise rehydration drink. British Journal of Nutrition. 2007; 98: 173-180.

{Scientific synopsis provided by Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN, Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association} Top

Chocolate Milk For Recovery

Low-fat chocolate milk is great for active people after a workout because its powerful nutrient package provides energy, protein, calcium and seven other essential nutrients (including potassium, phosphorus, vitamins A, D and B12, riboflavin and niacin.)

In a recent study, published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, chocolate milk and the Gatorade-type sports drink were better recovery aids, in that the study participants that drank each of these beverages between two cycling sessions were able to cycle 1.5 times longer than the study participants who drank the carbohydrate replacement beverage (one often consumed by high-endurance athletes)

Low-fat chocolate milk may be an effective beverage for refueling muscles after strenuous exercise, which may be due to its carbohydrate and protein content. Results demonstrate that milk was equivalent to a fluid/electrolyte replacement beverage (Gatorade sports drink) and better than a carbohydrate replacement beverage (Endurox), which are currently being marketed to address the two parameters measured: time to exhaustion and total work. This study was performed in highly trained, male endurance cyclists, so generalization of the results may be limited to trained athletes, and not the general population. While the study included a small sample size (9 participants), its cross over design allows for greater statistical power with a small number of subjects. Furthermore, the significant findings in a small sample size demonstrate the robustness of the effects. So for those of you who are active – Power UP with some low-fat chocolate milk!

Karp et al., Chocolate milk as a post-exercise recovery aid. Int. J Sports Nutr & Exec Meta., 2006 16: 78. Top

Evidence Linking Lowfat Dairy to Diabetes Prevention is Growing

Another epidemiological study, which included more than 37,000 middle-aged (48-62 years old) health professional women over a 10 year period (from the Women’s Health Study), found that "each serving-per-day increase in dairy intake was associated with a 4% lower risk of type 2 diabetes."

Study participants who were in the highest quintile of daily dairy intake (>2.9 servings) had a 21 percent reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those in the lowest quintile of daily dairy intake(<0.85 servings); providing further support for the Dietary Guideline’s recommendation for three daily servings of dairy. Although the results were self reported, researchers note that the health professional characteristic of this study cohort may suggest the results are more valid.

The researchers conclude that "a dietary pattern that incorporates higher low-fat dairy products may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged or older women.” Additional findings to note:

Findings suggest that dairy has an effect on the incidence of type 2 diabetes, independent of individual dietary factors of calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, fat, fiber and glycemic load. Researchers also found dairy consumption’s effect on incidence of type 2 diabetes to be independent of BMI. Authors noted that exact mechanisms are unclear, but suggest there are favorable effects of dairy foods in the diet beyond type 2 diabetes, such as improved BMI, blood pressure, cardiovascular health and reduced risk of insulin resistance syndrome.

Diabetes Care – July 2006 issue – A Prospective Study of Dairy Intake and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women



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