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South Wales Study Clears Milk for Heart Health
19 Dec
Summary
- Long-term study tracked older men over two decades.
- Higher milk intake linked to lower ischaemic stroke risk.
- No convincing evidence links milk to heart disease or stroke.
A comprehensive two-decade study involving older men in South Wales has re-examined the link between milk consumption and cardiovascular health. Researchers tracked a cohort of men aged 45-59, meticulously recording their diets and health outcomes, including heart disease and stroke events.
The Caerphilly cohort study, initiated in the late 1970s and early 1980s, analyzed diet diaries from 665 participants. These men were divided based on milk intake, with findings indicating that those consuming more milk had a notably lower risk of ischaemic stroke. The study suggested a 52% reduction in relative odds for stroke among higher milk drinkers.
While the results for ischaemic heart disease were less definitive, the overall pattern did not support claims that milk drinking elevates vascular disease risk. The research concluded that milk, in this group, did not contribute to the heart problems it is often accused of causing, offering a more nuanced perspective on dairy's role in diet.
