Milk, coronary disease and mortality

Elwood, Peter Creighton

doi:10.1136/jech.55.6.375

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In epidemiological studies, the dietary consumption of milk [39,40] and calcium [41][42][43], both of which are altered in connection with ATH, have been implicated as risk factors for CHD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult-type hypolactasia is not a predisposing factor for the early functional and structural changes of atherosclerosis: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Individuals suffering from ATH (adult-type hypolactasia), defined by the LCT (gene encoding lactase-phlorizin hydrolase) C/C(-13910) genotype (rs4988235), use less milk and dairy products and may have higher plasma HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and lower triacylglycerol (triglyceride) concentrations than their counterparts without ATH. To investigate the effects of ATH status on the early markers of atherosclerosis, we examined its association with CIMT (carotid intima-media thickness), CAC (carotid artery compliance) and brachial artery FMD (flow-mediated dilation) in a young population-based cohort of otherwise healthy individuals. As part of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, we performed CIMT, CAC and FMD analyses, LCT C/T(-13910) genotyping and risk factor determination in 2109 young subjects 24-39 years of age (45% males) at the time of the examination. The consumption of both milk and dairy products was lowest and the consumption of alcohol highest in subjects with the C/C(-13910) genotype (P<0.001 for all) in comparison with subjects without ATH (TT+CT). In multivariate analysis, no significant association between ATH status and CIMT, CAC or brachial artery FMD was found after adjustment for the use of alcohol, dairy products and all other major risk factors of coronary artery disease. In otherwise similar statistical analysis, the results remained non-significant when females and males were analysed in their own groups. In conclusion, the finding does not support the involvement of ATH in the pathogenesis of early atherosclerosis.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult-type hypolactasia is not a predisposing factor for the early functional and structural changes of atherosclerosis: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Further support is derived from relationships between milk drinking and risk factors for vascular disease (Elwood, 2001), and from the effects of short-term intervention studies of milk consumption on blood lipid levels (Roberts et al, 1982;Steinmetz et al, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Milk drinking, ischaemic heart disease and ischaemic stroke I. Evidence from the Caerphilly cohort

et al. 2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To test the hypothesis that milk drinking increases the risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and ischaemic stroke in a prospective study. Design: In the Caerphilly Cohort Study dietary data, including milk consumption, were collected by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire in [1979][1980][1981][1982][1983]. The cohort has been followed for 20-24 y and incident IHD and stroke events identified. Subjects: A representative population sample in South Wales, of 2512 men, aged 45-59 y at recruitment. Main outcome measures: In total, 493 men had an IHD event and 185 an ischaemic stroke during follow-up. Results: After adjustment, the hazard ratio in men with a milk consumption of one pint (0.57 l) or more per day, relative to men who stated that they consumed no milk, is 0.71 (0.40-1.26) for IHD and 0.66 (0.24-1.81) for ischaemic stroke. At baseline, 606 men had had clinical or ECG evidence of vascular disease, and in these the vascular risk was even lower (0.37; 0.15-0.90). The hazard ratio for IHD and ischaemic stroke combined is 0.64 (0.39-1.06) in all men and 0.37 (0.15-0.90) in those who had had a prior vascular event. Conclusion: The data provide no convincing evidence that milk consumption is associated with an increase in vascular disease risk. Evidence from an overview of all published cohort studies on this topic should be informative. Sponsorship:

show abstract

“…Ness et al state that milk in childhood increases growth and that longer legs in childhood and greater height in adulthood are correlated with reduced coronary and all-cause mortality. Elwood [23] takes this as a suggestion that a high milk intake in childhood is associated with protection against vascular disease. However, just because a factor A is correlated with a factor B, and factor B with factor C, we cannot assume that factor A is associated with factor C.…”

Section: Studymentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Elwood [23], in an editorial which is widely quoted as authoritative, tells us that seven large prospective studies failed to show that drinking milk harms the heart. While prospective studies can be useful, it may be that, when the results are analysed, it becomes clear that all the important questions were not asked.…”

Section: Prospective Studiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Does Milk Cause Coronary Heart Disease?

Moss¹

2002

Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose: To investigate the evidence linking coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths with milk consumption, and the evidence against such a link. Design: Literature-based review, together with some statistical analysis. Materials and Methods: Analysis of data from a Medline search and standard statistical sources. Results: Several studies have been published showing a high positive correlation between milk consumption in different countries and rates of death a few years later from CHD. One investigation showed that countries which reduced milk consumption later had reduced rates of CHD death, while the only country studied which increased its milk consumption had an increased rate of CHD death. A variety of possible reasons for a link between milk and CHD have been suggested. On the other hand, several studies of smaller groups of people suggest that milk does not correlate with CHD. These studies have serious weaknesses. In no case was there any attempt to nd the total exposure to milk, in all foods and drinks. In some studies, age and social class were ignored. One study, widely quoted as showing that CHD is not caused by milk consumption, was actually concerned with strokes. However, CHD deaths are negatively correlated with deaths from strokes. The Masai drink much milk, but it is fermented. They do have atherosclerosis but rarely die of CHD because of the large lumen of their arteries, and probably because few live long enough. A reason why af uent countries tend to have a higher incidence of CHD may be that people susceptible to CHD are the same as those susceptible to infection. In poorer countries, they tend to die of infection before they would have died of heart disease. These susceptible people may be those with clinical or subclinical degrees of hypothyroidism. Conclusions: Milk consumption does appear to be strongly related to CHD death in communities where susceptible people live long enough. Research into the diets of large numbers of people could usefully be preceded by sampling the questions on a subgroup to determine if the data collected will give accurate information on total milk consumption. A randomized controlled study on the effects of a milk-free diet on people with angina would be worthwhile.

show abstract

Milk, coronary disease and mortality

Cited by 14 publications

References 12 publications

Adult-type hypolactasia is not a predisposing factor for the early functional and structural changes of atherosclerosis: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Adult-type hypolactasia is not a predisposing factor for the early functional and structural changes of atherosclerosis: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

Milk drinking, ischaemic heart disease and ischaemic stroke I. Evidence from the Caerphilly cohort

Does Milk Cause Coronary Heart Disease?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About