Factsheet of the IDF N° 34/2023: Dairy matrix: The case of cheese

Publication description

Nowadays, nutrition research focuses on the holistic impact of whole foods on health. This entails the recognition that a food’s impact is shaped by the interaction of its components and structure, going beyond the sum of its individual nutrients (i.e., food matrix effect). This factsheet series delves into the emerging body of research on the dairy matrix, reshaping current nutritional and health perspectives. Dairy foods have different matrices that result in distinct matrix effects.

• The cheese matrix describes the unique structure of cheese, its components, and how they interact, and how this impacts potential health effects upon consumption.
• Despite its saturated fat and sodium content, cheese has unexpectedly shown neutral to beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health outcomes.
• Cheese, despite its sodium content, has been shown to protect blood vessel functioning and has been associated with positive benefits on blood pressure.
• As national dietary guidelines evolve, the focus shifts from recommending food intake solely based on the predicted effects of isolated nutrients to a more holistic approach.

Cite this content as:

International Dairy Federation. (2023).  Dairy matrix: The case of cheese (Factsheet of the IDF N° 34/2023). https://doi.org/10.56169/DEDF4470