Key points
- Dairy is typically anti-inflammatory
- There is little difference in the anti-inflammatory effects between low-fat, full-fat, and fermented dairy
- Dairy is typically anti-inflammatory for those with metabolic disorders
- Dairy is typically inflammatory for those with dairy allergies and might also be for those with immune and inflammatory disorders
Inflammation is a critical biological process that provides essential functions to the body’s ability to recover from illness, infection, and injury. Inflammation though needs to be in balance and our modern lifestyle which includes reduced sleep length and quality, increased psychosocial stress, and foods that are pro-inflammatory, is likely to have played a role in the increased prevalence of diseases related to chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction. Dairy is a common allergen and the incidence of dairy allergies appears to be rising.1 It is therefore often eliminated from diets, especially in the complementary and alternative health sphere. However, the evidence for that recommendation may not be strong.
Dairy is often eliminated from diets but the evidence for that recommendation is not strong
A review of 52 clinical trials evaluated the inflammatory score of diets containing dairy. The overall evidence suggested an anti-inflammatory effect of dairy whether low-fat, high-fat, or fermented. However, most importantly, when the subjects in the studies were analysed according to health status, dairy was found to be anti-inflammatory for those with metabolic syndrome and pro-inflammatory for those with underlying allergies to dairy proteins.2
The overall evidence suggested an anti-inflammatory effect of dairy whether low-fat, high-fat, or fermented
In an evaluation of the effect of dairy consumption on inflammatory blood markers (c-reactive protein, interleukins, cytokines, and vascular adhesion molecules or expression of proinflammatory genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells), 16 studies including both healthy people and those with metabolic disorder or diabetes showed no pro-inflammatory effects of dairy. In contrast, the majority of studies documented a significant anti-inflammatory effect in both healthy and metabolically abnormal subjects, although not all the articles were of high quality.3
Dairy was found to be anti-inflammatory for those with metabolic syndrome and pro-inflammatory for those with underlying allergies to dairy proteins
Elimination diets that include the reduction or complete elimination of dairy have shown efficacy for autoimmune or inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease,4 ulcerative colitis,5 and asthma (especially when there is a suspected or diagnosed food allergy or intolerance),6 and clinical experience suggests that dairy elimination should be trialled in those with inflammatory conditions.
Overall, dairy is likely to be an anti-inflammatory food for most people BUT will exacerbate inflammation in those allergic or sensitive to dairy and those with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions.
References
1. Rona RJ, Keil T, Summers C, Gislason D, Zuidmeer L, Sodergren E, et al. The prevalence of food allergy: A meta-analysis. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2007;120(3):638-46.
2. Bordoni A, Danesi F, Dardevet D, Dupont D, Fernandez AS, Gille D, et al. Dairy products and inflammation: A review of the clinical evidence. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017;57(12):2497-525.
3. Ulven SM, Holven KB, Gil A, Rangel-Huerta OD. Milk and Dairy Product Consumption and Inflammatory Biomarkers: An Updated Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. Advances in Nutrition. 2019;10(suppl_2):S239-S50.
4. Slonim AE, Grovit M, Bulone L. Effect of Exclusion Diet with Nutraceutical Therapy in Juvenile Crohn’s Disease. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2009;28(3):277-85.
5. Wright R, Truelove SC, Draper GJ. A Controlled Therapeutic Trial Of Various Diets In Ulcerative Colitis. The British Medical Journal. 1965;2(5454):138-41.
6. Liu AH, Jaramillo R, Sicherer SH, Wood RA, Bock SA, Burks AW, et al. National prevalence and risk factors for food allergy and relationship to asthma: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2006. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2010;126(4):798-806.e14.
