Factsheet of the IDF N° 33/2023: Dairy matrix: The case of milk

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 milk matrix describes the unique structure of milk, its components, and how they interact, and how this impacts potential health effects upon consumption.

• Scientific evidence shows either neutral or beneficial associations between milk consumption and cardiometabolic health.

• The mechanisms underlying the effects of milk consumption on bone health are not fully understood, but experts believe the milk matrix exerts a positive effect on bone that goes beyond calcium intake.

• A decreased risk of colorectal cancer has been observed with increased consumption of milk, attributed to factors such as improved calcium absorption.

Cite this content as:

International Dairy Federation. (2023).  Dairy matrix: The case of milk (Factsheet of the IDF N° 33/2023). https://doi.org/10.56169/WXGD1425