Effects of Drinking Milk with Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Gut Health
Author Information
Author(s): Farnworth Edward R, Chouinard Yvan P, Jacques Helene, Venkatramanan Sudha, Maf Akier A, Defnoun Sabrina, Jones Peter JH
Primary Institution: Food Research and Development Centre, Agriculture Canada
Hypothesis
Does the consumption of conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) affect the fecal microbiota composition, fecal enzyme activity, or fecal composition in humans?
Conclusion
The study concluded that changes in fecal microbiota and enzyme activity could be attributed to increased milk intake rather than the different types of CLAs consumed.
Supporting Evidence
- Lactobacilli and bifidobacteria numbers significantly decreased after consuming all types of milk.
- Enzyme activities of β-glucosidase, nitroreductase, and urease decreased after 56 days.
- Fecal pH and ammonia content did not change during the study.
Takeaway
Drinking milk with certain fats didn't change the good bacteria in our poop, but it did change some of the poop's chemistry.
Methodology
Participants consumed different types of milk for 8 weeks, with fecal samples collected at the start and end of each phase to analyze microbiota and enzyme activity.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to self-reported dietary habits and the single-blind design.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and some participants dropped out, which may affect the results.
Participant Demographics
Moderately hyperlipidemic, overweight men and women aged 30-60.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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