Washington: While milk has long been a healthy drink for everyone, a new study reveals that it also prevents chronic diseases. For example, there is a positive link between the moderate intake of milk during pregnancy and birth weight, length, and bone mineral content during childhood. In addition, a daily intake of milk and dairy products in elderly people may reduce the risk of frailty and sarcopenia.
The findings of the review were published in the journal 'Advances in Nutrition'. The following study reviewed global scientific literature on the role of dairy products in health and in the prevention of chronic diseases including cardiovascular, metabolic syndrome, colon or bladder cancer, and type-2 diabetes.
It also examined the effects of milk and dairy products on the growth, bone mineral density, generation of muscle mass, and during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Milk and dairy products not only contain multiple nutrients but also contribute to meeting the nutritional requirements for protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, selenium, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin B12, and pantothenic acid.
In the following study, researchers also found that a higher intake of dairy products depicted an association with decreased vertebral fracture risk. However, in the analysis of the differences between high vs low consumption of dairy products, no association was identified between dairy product consumption and increased risk of mortality.