New study finds full-fat dairy doesn't harm metabolic health

A Canadian study led by University of Toronto professor Harvey Anderson found that adults consuming three servings of full-fat dairy daily for 12 weeks did not experience harmful changes in body weight, body composition, or blood cholesterol levels compared to those with little dairy intake.

Participants who consumed more dairy also showed improvements in blood pressure and higher levels of important nutrients such as calcium, protein, and vitamin D.

The study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, challenges long-standing dietary guidelines that have discouraged full-fat dairy due to its saturated fat content.

Researchers assigned 74 adults with overweight or obesity to three different dietary groups. One group followed a low-dairy, calorie-restricted diet. The other two consumed three daily servings of dairy, with one group maintaining an energy-neutral diet and the other eating without specific calorie restrictions.

All participants received guidance based on Canada's food guide, and full-fat dairy products were provided throughout the study. At the end of the 12-week period, researchers compared various metabolic health indicators.

The results indicated that higher dairy intake did not lead to adverse metabolic changes. However, the study was small and short-term, so longer and larger studies are needed to confirm long-term health impacts.