The health footprint of milk and cheese: identifying markers of consumption

Project Overview

Consumption of milk and cheese has been linked to a lower risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. However, studying these effects is challenging because accurately measuring dietary intake is difficult. This project aims to identify blood markers that reflect milk and cheese consumption. The researchers will measure small molecules (metabolites) in the blood influenced by dairy intake, to improve dietary assessment in large observational studies and better understand the health impact of milk and cheese.

What Will the Research Team Do?

The research team aims to identify plasma ‘metabolomic signatures’ (footprint) of milk and cheese consumption. The study will analyze previously collected blood samples from trials with fully controlled diets to identify molecules influenced by dairy intake.

The objectives of this project are to:

• Identify an objective and unbiased plasma metabolomics signature of reduced-fat milk consumption.
• Identify an objective and unbiased plasma metabolomics signature of regular-fat cheese consumption.