Cardiometabolic Effects of Cheese Intake: Does Matrix Fat Content and Ripening Duration Matter?

Tanja Kongerslev Thorning

Abstract

In several countries, the dietary guidelines for preventing CVD focus on reducing the intake of saturated fat. A high cheese intake in particular may however not be associated with CVD risk, despite a high content of saturated fat. This could be due to a reduced digestibility of fat in cheese.

The aim of this PhD thesis was to investigate how the fat content of the cheese-matrix and the cheese ripening duration affect cardiometabolic risk markers and fecal fat excretion. The thesis is based on three intervention studies, two in pigs and one in humans.

The results suggested that fat content of cheese-matrix may influence the HDL-cholesterol response, while the ripening duration may affect the level of free fatty acids and insulin in the blood. Furthermore the results showed that a diet with saturated fat in cheese or meat caused a higher HDL-cholesterol, but not LDL-cholesterol, compared to a diet with a lower fat and higher carbohydrate content. The fecal fat excretion is unlikely affected by the ripening duration or fat content of the cheese-matrix, but is higher after intake of a diet with cheese compared to diets with meat or carbohydrates.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationCopenhagen
PublisherDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
Number of pages138
ISBN (Print)978-87-7611-947-8
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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