A trial found no weight change after three daily full-fat dairy servings
The trial, published in The Journal of Nutrition, examined whether eating full-fat dairy each day produced the health effects commonly attributed to its fat content. The dairy products supplied to participants included milk containing 3.25% fat, Greek yoghurt with 2% fat and cheese with 31% fat.
The 74 adults with overweight or obesity were followed for 12 weeks and assigned to three dietary strategies. One group reduced its intake by 500 calories a day and avoided dairy products. A second group added three daily servings of full-fat dairy without reducing calories. The third continued eating the same amount of dairy while following a diet without energy restrictions.
At the end of the study period, none of the groups showed significant differences in body weight, body composition or cardiometabolic markers. The latter included indicators related to cardiovascular health and insulin resistance. Under the conditions tested, three daily servings of full-fat dairy did not produce the adverse effects expected solely on the basis of their fat content.
The groups that included full-fat dairy consumed more protein and calcium than the other participants. They also reported feeling full for longer. The study account said this could result in a natural reduction in total daily calorie intake, although the trial did not report significant changes in body weight among the groups.
The article noted that milk fat is consumed alongside other components, including protein, lactose, calcium and B vitamins. Vitamins A, K and D in full-fat milk are fat-soluble and require fat for absorption; the article said these vitamins are lost when the product is skimmed. It also cited nutrition data stating that saturated milk fat raises HDL cholesterol, commonly called “good cholesterol”, while describing butyric acid in milk fat as having anti-inflammatory effects and a possible role in reducing colon-cancer risk.
The findings do not establish that full-fat dairy is preferable for everyone to low-fat or semi-skimmed alternatives. Brazilian and American dietary guidelines both include dairy among healthy foods, while their recommendations differ according to national guidance and individual needs. The article advised against either demonising milk fat or treating it as free of dietary considerations. It also recommended individual nutritional advice for people with diabetes, kidney disease or dyslipidaemia, whose fat and calcium intake may require clinical control.
