The dairy food matrix and its role in future diets from an Irish perspective: An invited review

Background Dairy foods are a rich source of nutrients such as protein, calcium, iodine and riboflavin, which are important for biological processes and health. Several of these nutrients have been highlighted as nutrients of concern, with suboptimal intakes reported globally. In Ireland, the dairy food category is a key contributor to these nutrients; however, suboptimal intakes are observed in some subpopulations which may have longer term health implications. Current dietary guidelines recommend ~3 dairy servings/day with low‐fat varieties often recommended, as dairy fat contains >60% saturated fat which has been linked to elevated cholesterol concentrations and increased cardiovascular disease risk. However, more recent evidence indicates full‐fat dairy foods may have neutral or beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, including lipid and glucose metabolism, blood pressure and anthropometry. Aim This article reviews the published evidence linking the dairy food matrix and health, with a focus on the Irish perspective and future diets. Major Findings The dairy food matrix, the interaction of dairy food structures and the nutrients contained within, is thought to influence this relationship. Several mechanisms of action have been described that may act in concert, including insoluble calcium soap formation, fat globule size, bioactive compounds such as polar lipids, as well as probiotics from the fermentation process during cheese and yogurt manufacture. Furthermore, the debate around the full‐fat and low‐fat dairy and health is an emerging topic, particularly in relation to food‐based dietary guidelines. However, while the impact of dairy food intake on human health has received much attention, current and future research and practice must also consider environmental and planetary health. Implications As a rich source of several nutrients important for health and with the potential for improved environmental metrics across the food system, dairy has an important role to play in future, sustainable diets, both in Ireland and globally.