Cheese 'significantly' better than butter at lowering cholesterol in women, UCD study claims

The researchers looked at the impact on cholesterol levels from eating Irish cheddar cheese compared to butter for both men and women. File photo

Warnings about eating our favourite foods tend to grate, but there is good news for women with new Irish research showing cheddar cheese is good for their heart health.

The researchers looked at the impact on cholesterol levels from eating Irish cheddar cheese compared to butter for both men and women.

They found “a dramatic difference” in women, with significantly lower cholesterol after consumption of cheese compared to butter, a spokesman for University College Dublin (UCD) said.

However in men they found “no significant difference” with both foods showing a similar lowering of cholesterol concentrations.

Co-author Dr Martina Rooney said the results could be used to help develop individual nutrition plans with guidance tailored for women to boost their heart health. 

“Simply put, females appear to respond more favourably to cheese compared to fat in other dairy foods – and this is important,” she said.

“Increased understanding of sex differences in response to diet will help provide more tailored, personalised nutrition to those at risk of heart disease, and therefore improve management of heart health through lifestyle modifications.” 

The 'dairy matrix'

The results could indicate women are more sensitive to what the study referred to as the “dairy matrix effect”. 

This is the complex structure of protein, fat and other nutritional elements in dairy foods and how they interact in the human body.

This new study builds on previous Irish research involving people from Dublin and the surrounding area. 

Participants were given either 120g of Irish cheddar or so-called “deconstructed cheese” made up of 49g butter, 30g calcium caseinate and a calcium supplement. 

The UCD study concluded overall “cheese was found to improve lipid profiles in middle-aged adults at increased risk of metabolic disease". However the researchers called for more study on the sex differences identified.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death among women in Ireland, although previously doctors have warned this is not widely understood. 

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The paper highlights conflicting views held at various times around health benefits of eating dairy. They noted some people limit their intake despite milk or cheese proving “a range of nutrients such as protein, calcium, iodine, vitamin D and vitamin B12”.

The study titled ‘The impact of sex and the cheese matrix on cholesterol metabolism in middle-aged adults’ can be read on the journal Atherosclerosis.