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ABSTRACT
Dairy
product consumption is often associated with negative effects because
of its naturally high levels of saturated fatty acids. However, recent
research has shown that dairy lipids possess putative bioactivity
against chronic inflammation. Inflammation triggers the onset of several
chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes
mellitus, obesity, and cancer. This review discusses the
anti-inflammatory properties of dairy lipids found in milk, yogurt, and
cheese, and it examines them in relation to their implications for human
health: their protective effects and their role in pathology. We also
consider the effect of lipid profile alteration in dairy products—by
using ruminant dietary strategies to enrich the milk, or by lipid
fortification in the products. We critically review the in vivo, in
vitro, ex vivo, and epidemiological studies associated with these dairy
lipids and their role in various inflammatory conditions. Finally, we
discuss some suggestions for future research in the study of bioactive
lipids and dairy products, with reference to the novel field of
metabolomics and epidemiological studies.
Key words
- inflammation;
- cardiovascular disease;
- lipids;
- dairy
