Research
Macro partitioning
Replacing saturated fat from dairy with carbohydrates does not improve cardiovascular risk profiles and may worsen them by lowering HDL and increasing small dense LDL.
Do not simply swap high-fat dairy for high-carb low-fat alternatives expecting heart health benefits. This substitution often fails to improve risk markers and may lower protective HDL cholesterol. Prioritize whole food sources and polyunsaturated fats if modifying fat intake.
GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
Clinical trials in which replacement of saturated fat occurs in the context of reduced total fat and increased carbohydrate have generally not been associated with improvements in CVD.
Why this rating
Supported by clinical trials (e.g., Women's Health Initiative) and prospective studies.
Source
A reappraisal of the impact of dairy foods and milk fat on cardiovascular disease risk
J. Bruce German et al. · European Journal of Nutrition · 2009
narrative_reviewCited 256×
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