Iranian Journal of

Background: Milk and fermented milk products have been known as foods with possible hypocholesterolemic effects. In this study we compared the effects of milk replacement with regular and probiotic yogurt in normocholesterolemic (N) and hypercholesterolemic (H) subjects.

Methods: Twenty eight subjects with total serum cholesterol 160-280 mg/dl were included. They did not consume yogurt for 2 weeks after that 300 g/day of milk was added to their diet. Then, blood lipids were measured and they were randomly allocated to 2 groups to receive either 300g/day of ordinary yogurt or probiotic yogurt for 6 weeks as a substitution for milk. Blood lipid tests were repeated at the end of the study. Subjects in both groups were divided into these two subgroups according to their baseline blood cholesterol level: subgroup N (cholesterol<220mg/dl) and H (cholesterol≥220mg/dl). Blood lipid changes were compared between these subgroups in each experimental group.

Results: Total cholesterol and LDL-C levels reduced in the H as compared to N subgroup after regular yogurt consumption instead of milk and the reduction of LDL-C was significant (P=0.033). The effect of milk replacement with probiotic yogurt on total cholesterol and LDL-C reduction in H compared to N subgroup was higher than regular yogurt consumption (P=0.028 and P=0.014 for total cholesterol and LDL-C respectively).

Conclusion: The higher the baseline blood cholesterol level, the more beneficial effects of milk replacement with yogurt, especially probiotic yogurt. So, it is suggested for hypercholesterolemic individuals to consume more yogurt as the source of dairy products in their diet.