Milk intake and risk of fracture and mortality : a literature review

Abstract

Milk contains calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus and protein. All these ingredients may potentially improve human health, and milk thus has been promoted to be an irreplaceable pillar of modern nutrition with the symbolic significance of wealth. However, the effects of milk on human health are not well established. The objective of this review was to summarize the association between milk intake and risk of fracture and mortality by examining evidence from recent prospective cohort studies. Data sources for this study were original English studies published between Jan.1st 2000 and Jan.1st 2015 searched from PubMed, EMBASE, and Ovid. The keywords used for the search include “milk intake”, “milk consumption”, “fracture”, “mortality” and their miscellaneous combinations. A total of 6 studies, of which 1 study focused on both fracture and mortality, were included in this review. Four out of 6 studies in women and 3 of 4 studies in men showed no associations of milk intake with risk of fracture. Meanwhile, one study found an association of high intake of milk with higher all-cause mortality for both women and men. However, cautious interpretation is recommended given the included studies were observational in nature. This review may be able to inform the public’s perceptions and government recommendations about the health effects of milk products and question the validity of marketing strategies of the food industry.