A new Swedish study suggests a possible health risk for women who drink milk, but experts are divided on whether this should raise alarm.
Milk has long been considered an essential part of a healthy diet, but the study has drawn attention by suggesting a potential link between milk consumption in women and an increased risk of disease.
While some experts find the results intriguing, others caution against jumping to conclusions.
Study Findings
The study, which tracked around 60,000 women and 40,000 men over the age of 30, found that milk consumption may increase the risk of heart disease in women.
For example, the researchers reported:
Drinking 2 glasses of milk a day increases the risk by 5%.
Drinking 3 glasses of milk a day increases the risk by 12%.
Drinking 4 glasses of milk a day increases the risk by 21%.
Interestingly, the study did not find the same association in men or with the consumption of fermented dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt.
Experts' Assessment
Jens Rikardt Andersen, a specialist and associate professor at the Department of Sports and Nutrition at the University of Copenhagen, described the findings as noteworthy but not necessarily cause for concern:
“The connection is surprising and interesting, but I would not advise anyone to stop drinking milk based on this study,” he told the Danish Science magazine Videnskab.dk.
He also emphasized the study’s limitations, noting that the researchers did not account for all factors that could influence the results, such as diet, genetics, and lifestyle.
This article is based on information from Videnskab.dk and Welltica.
