People who drink full-fat milk may face a greater risk of dying from heart disease than those who choose low-fat varieties, a 33-year study has found.
A long-term analysis of 73,860 people found that the fat content of milk appeared to influence the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, which affects the heart and blood vessels.
Researchers in Norway followed participants, with an average age of 41, for 33 years. During this time there were 26,393 deaths, including 8,590 from cardiovascular causes.
The findings were based on health data collected in three cardiovascular health screenings between 1974 and 1988.
Those who drank full-fat milk had a higher risk of dying than low-fat milk drinkers, with the link remaining even after excluding early deaths or people with pre-existing conditions.
Low-fat milk drinkers tended to be female, have higher education levels and not smoke, while full-fat milk drinkers were more likely to be current smokers.
Researchers say the results add long-term evidence to the debate over dairy fat and heart health, indicating that low-fat milk could offer some protective benefit.
They wrote: “Associations between milk intake and cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality varied by type of milk, with positive associations found for whole milk and a modestly inverse association with ischemic heart disease and all-cause mortality was found for low-fat milk when compared with whole milk.”
The findings align with current NHS health recommendations.
According to the NHS, most of the fat in milk and dairy products is saturated, and consuming large amounts of it can contribute to weight gain.
Diets high in saturated fat may also raise blood cholesterol levels, which can increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
