Dairy consumption indicates a lower risk of metabolic syndrome

Previous research described the contribution of milk and yogurt to a lower risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). This study aimed to assess the association between dairy consumption and the incidence rate of MetS in young adults (23-25 years) in Brazil. Daily food consumption was evaluated with a food frequency questionnaire and the estimated habitual portion of dairy consumption was divided into quintiles. The criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the Joint Interim Statement (JIS) were used to define MetS cases.

Calcium as an important nutrient

The researchers found that a greater dairy consumption was associated with a lower risk of MetS taking into account both IDF and JIS criteria and comparing the last quintile with the first:

As significance was lost when data were adjusted for calcium in both models,  they concluded that the nutrient calcium may be responsible for this association.

Reference: Martins, M. et al., Dairy consumption is associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome among young adults from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, Nutrition May 2015, Vol 31(5), pp. 716-721.