(P30-033-23) Effect of Short-Term Full-Fat Yogurt Consumption on Circulating Inflammatory Biomarkers in Individuals With Prediabetes

Objectives: Chronic low-grade inflammation is a hallmark of many metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. Whereas recent research suggests that the consumption of full-fat (≥3.25%) dairy products may help reduce this inflammation, health authorities continue to recommend consuming low- or non-fat dairy products. The objective of this pilot study was to determine the effect of consuming full-fat (3.25%) yogurt, compared to non-fat yogurt, on systemic inflammatory tone in individuals with prediabetes. We hypothesized that short-term consumption of three daily servings of full-fat yogurt would promote an anti-inflammatory profile of inflammatory biomarkers.

Methods: Seven women and six men aged 45-75 years old completed a randomized, double-masked, controlled crossover study that compared diets with three daily servings of either non-fat yogurt (NFY diet) or full-fat yogurt (FFY diet). The arithmetic difference in fat between diets (8% energy; NFY: 30% fat vs. FFY: 38% fat) was solely due to the dairy fat in the full-fat yogurt. The 8-week study was comprised of two, three-week experimental diets, each preceded by a one-week run-in/washout diet. At the end of each diet, fasting blood samples were collected for the measurement of cytokines, chemokines, acute-phase proteins, and adipokines.

Results: Between diets, there were no differences in the plasma concentrations of the following cytokines and chemokines: interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumor necrosis factor α (P>0.05). Similarly, for the acute phase-associated proteins C-reactive protein and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, no differences in plasma concentrations were observed between diets (P>0.05). There were also no differences between diets for plasma concentrations of the adipokines adiponectin or adipsin (P>0.05).

Conclusions: The results from this pilot study do not support our hypothesis, as we observed no effect of short-term consumption of three daily servings of full-fat yogurt on circulating cytokines, chemokines, acute-phase proteins, and adipokines in individuals with prediabetes.

Funding Sources: National Dairy Council Nutrition Research Funding and a USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative National Institute of Food and Agriculture Predoctoral Fellowship funded this project.