Dietary enrichment of milk and dairy products with n 3 fatty acids: A review
Abstract Milk and dairy products are important sources of nutrients in the human diet; however, they are also the main sources of saturated fatty acids (FAs) that can cause an increase in the risk of cardiometabolic and cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, the n 3 FAs that are known for their health benefits are found in small amounts in normal ruminant milk fat and dairy products. Dietary supplementation with vegetable seeds or oils rich in a linolenic acid (ALA) and grass based feeding can enhance the content of n 3 FAs, particularly ALA, in milk and dairy products. Alternatively, ruminants are often supplemented with fish meal, fish oil and microalgae that are rich in the long chain n 3 FAs eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. In this paper, the latest scientific studies regarding n 3 FA enrichment in milk and dairy products are reviewed, giving an overview of the effectiveness of the different supplementation approaches.
International Dairy Journal