People who regularly drank milk had lower cholesterol levels and were less likely to develop heart disease, according to a study published May 24 in the International Journal of Obesity.

Researchers from the University of Reading, University of South Australia, and University of Auckland looked at data from nearly two million adults in the UK.

The researchers used genetics to help identify habitual milk drinkers - they found that people with a genetic variation that helps digest lactose were more likely to drink milk. Combined with surveys about milk consumption, the researchers used this information to assess how drinking milk might be linked to health outcomes, such as risk of disease.

They found that milk drinkers tend to have a higher body mass index, but lower levels of both good and bad cholesterol, and 14% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

Previous research suggests that saturated fat may be linked to a higher risk of heart disease. But milk, which is high in saturated fat, doesn't appear to be linked to health risks in the same way that other fatty foods, such as red meat, are.

These findings suggest that a heart-healthy diet can include milk, according to Vimal Karani, lead author of the study and professor of nutrigenetics at the University of Reading.

One explanation might be that the high calcium and lactose content of milk could change how fats are metabolized in the body, the researchers suggested. It could also be that milk drinking affects bacteria that live in the gut, altering how cholesterol is processed. More research is needed to better understand how exactly milk plays a role in disease risk.

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