Effects of increased consumption of fluid milk on energy and nutrient intake, body weight, and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy older adults

Objective To assess the impact of increased consumption of milk, without ot her dietary advice, on older adults' energy and nutrient intakes, weight, c ardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, plasma lipid levels), and quali ty of life. Subjects/setting Two hundred four healthy men and women, aged 55 to 85 year s, who consumed fewer than 1.5 dairy servings per day were chosen from six US academic health centers. Design Randomized, controlled open trial. Intervention Advice to increase skim or 1% milk intake by 3 cups per day (n = 101) or to maintain usual diet (n = 103) for 12 weeks after a 4-week bas eline period. Main outcome measures Changes in energy and nutrient intake assessed from 3 -day food records, body weight, blood pressure, and plasma lipid levels. Statistical analyses performed Group-by-time analysis of variance with repe at ed-measures, chi (2) test. Results Compliance with the intervention was good. Compared with controls, participants in the milk-supplemented group significantly increased energy, protein, cholesterol, vitamins A, D, and B-12, riboflavin, pantothenate, c alcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and potassium intakes. Prevalence of n utrient inadequacy, assessed for nutrients with Estimated Average Requireme nts, decreased among women in the milk group for magnesium (40% at baseline vs 13% at 12 weeks, P < .001) and vitamin B-12 (6% vs 0%, P < .05) and ten ded to decrease (P < .10) for protein and thiamin (women) and magnesium and vitamin B-6 (men). The milk group gained 0.6 kg more than control group (P < .01); however, weight gain was less than predicted, which suggests some compensation for the added energy from milk. Blood pressure decreased simil arly over time in both groups. Total and low-density lipoprotein cholestero l levels, and the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ch olesterol, were unchanged. Triglyceride levels increased within the normal range in the milk group (P = .002). Quality of life scores were high at bas eline and remained high throughout. Applications/conclusions Older adults can successfully increase milk intake , thereby meaningfully improving their nutrient intakes. Dietitians can pla y a key role in disseminating this advice.