Cheese Helps Reduce LDL Cholesterol Levels

COPENHAGENCheesemongers of the world rejoice, new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found eating cheese may not be as bad for cholesterol levels as other types of fat. The findings suggest cheese actually lowers low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol when compared with butter intake of equal fat content.

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen enrolled 50 participants to compare the effects of diets of equal fat content rich in either hard cheese or butter or a habitual diet on blood pressure and fasting serum blood lipids, C-reactive protein, glucose and insulin.

The randomized dietary intervention consisted of two six-week crossover periods and a 14-day run-in period during which the 50 subjects consumed their normal diet. Participants replaced part of their normal dietary fat intake with 13% of calories from cheese or butter. After six weeks, the cheese intervention resulted in lower serum total, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations and higher glucose concentrations than the butter intervention. Cheese intake did not increase serum total or LDL-cholesterol concentrations compared with the run-in period, during which total fat and saturated fat intakes were lower.