Dairy products are good for intestinal health, study suggests

Regular consumption of dairy products can change the composition of bacteria in the colon and positively affect intestinal health. This is evidenced by a study from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, USA, the findings of which were published in the journal Nutrients.

Researchers examined samples of the colonic mucosa of 34 adults. It was found that a high amount of milk in their diet was associated with an increase in the diversity of microbiota and the growth of Faecalibacterium and Akkermansia bacteria, which strengthen the mucosal barrier and have anti-inflammatory properties.

Also, cheese consumption is associated with a lower proportion of Bacteroides and Subdoligranulum bacteria, the role of which in intestinal health is still not fully understood.

According to the researchers, the composition and diversity of the microbiota are directly related to immunity, metabolism, and the risk of chronic diseases. In addition, it is important to consider not only the amount of dairy products consumed, but also their type, since milk, cheese, or yogurt can affect the balance of intestinal microflora in different ways.

The aforesaid study is preliminary and requires confirmation in larger samples, but it points to the potential role of dairy products in maintaining intestinal health.

It has also been shown earlier that regular consumption of goat milk can slow down age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.

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