The effects of dairy and dairy derivatives on the gut microbiota: a systematic literature review

Hajara Aslam; Wolfgang Marx; Tetyana Rocks; Amy Loughman; Vinoomika Chandrasekaran; Anu Ruusunen; Samantha L Dawson; Madeline West; Eva Mullarkey; Julie A Pasco; Felice N Jacka

doi:10.1080/19490976.2020.1799533

The effects of dairy and dairy derivatives on the gut microbiota: a systematic literature review

Gut Microbes. 2020 Nov 9;12(1):1799533. doi: 10.1080/19490976.2020.1799533.

Authors

Hajara Aslam¹, Wolfgang Marx¹, Tetyana Rocks¹, Amy Loughman¹, Vinoomika Chandrasekaran¹, Anu Ruusunen^{1

2

3}, Samantha L Dawson^{1

4}, Madeline West¹, Eva Mullarkey⁵, Julie A Pasco^{1

6

7

8}, Felice N Jacka^{1

9

10}

Affiliations

¹ IMPACT - The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Deakin University , Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
² Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital , Kuopio, Finland.
³ Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio, Finland.
⁴ Environmental & Genetic Epidemiology Research, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital , Parkville, Australia.
⁵ Psychology Department, Wellesley College , Wellesley, MA, USA.
⁶ Department of Medicine - Western Health, Melbourne Medical School, The University of Melbourne , St Albans, Victoria, Australia.
⁷ Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University , Prahran, Victoria, Australia.
⁸ Barwon Health , Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
⁹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne , Victoria, Australia.
¹⁰ Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute , Victoria, Australia.

Abstract

The effects of dairy and dairy-derived products on the human gut microbiota remains understudied. A systematic literature search was conducted using Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, and PubMed databases with the aim of collating evidence on the intakes of all types of dairy and their effects on the gut microbiota in adults. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.The search resulted in 6,592 studies, of which eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) met pre-determined eligibility criteria for inclusion, consisting of a total of 468 participants. Seven studies assessed the effect of type of dairy (milk, yogurt, and kefir) and dairy derivatives (whey and casein) on the gut microbiota, and one study assessed the effect of the quantity of dairy (high dairy vs low dairy). Three studies showed that dairy types consumed (milk, yogurt, and kefir) increased the abundance of beneficial genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. One study showed that yogurt reduced the abundance of Bacteroides fragilis, a pathogenic strain. Whey and casein isolates and the quantity of dairy consumed did not prompt changes to the gut microbiota composition. All but one study reported no changes to bacterial diversity in response to dairy interventions and one study reported reduction in bacterial diversity in response to milk intake.In conclusion, the results of this review suggest that dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and kefir may modulate the gut microbiota composition in favor to the host. However, the broader health implications of these findings remain unclear and warrant further studies.

Keywords: Gut microbiota; bio-active peptide; casein; dairy; inflammation; whey.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Animals
Caseins / pharmacology
Dairy Products* / analysis
Female
Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / drug effects
Humans
Male

Substances

Caseins

Grants and funding

This review was not specifically funded. HA is supported by Deakin University Postgraduate Industry Research Scholarship; AL is supported by a Deakin University Deans Postdoctoral Fellowship; TR has received grants, fellowships and research support from University of the Sunshine Coast, Australian Postgraduate Awards, Fernwood Foundation and Be Fit Food. TR received consultancy, honoraria and travel funds from Oxford University Press, the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, Bond University, University of Southern Queensland, Dietitians Association of Australia, Nutrition Society of Australia, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Black Dog Institute, Australian Rotary Health, Australian Disease Management Association, Department of Health and Human Services, Primary Health Networks, Barwon Health, West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Central West Gippsland Primary Care Partnership, Parkdale College, City of Greater Geelong and Global Age; WM is supported by an Alfred Deakin Research Fellowship and a Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Fellowship and has previously received funding from the Cancer Council Queensland and university grants/fellowships from La Trobe University, Deakin University, University of Queensland, and Bond University. WM has received industry funding and has attended events funded by Cobram Estate Pty. Ltd. WM has received travel funding from Nutrition Society of Australia. WM has received consultancy funding from Nutrition Research Australia. WM has received speakers’ honoraria from The Cancer Council Queensland and the Princess Alexandra Research Foundation; MW is supported by a Deakin University PhD Scholarship; FNJ has received Grant/Research support from the Brain and Behaviour Research Institute, the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Rotary Health, the Geelong Medical Research Foundation, the Ian Potter Foundation, Eli Lilly, Meat and Livestock Australia, Woolworths Limited, the Fernwood Foundation, Wilson Foundation, the A2 Milk Company, Be Fit Foods, and The University of Melbourne, and has received speakers honoraria from Sanofi-Synthelabo, Janssen Cilag, Servier, Pfizer, Health Ed, Network Nutrition, Angelini Farmaceutica, Eli Lilly and Metagenics. FNJ has written two books for commercial publication and has a personal belief that good diet quality is important for mental and brain health.