Gut Microbiome Diversity and Composition Are Associated with Habitual Dairy Intakes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Men

Abstract

Background: At a population level, the relation between dairy consumption and gut microbiome composition is poorly understood. Objectives: We sought to study the cross-sectional associations between individual dairy foods (i.e., milk, yogurt, and cheese), as well as total dairy intake, and the gut microbiome composition in a large, representative sample of men living in south-eastern Australia. Methods: Data on 474 men (mean ± SD: 64.5 ± 13.5 y old) from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study were used to assess the cross-sectional association between dairy consumption and gut microbiome. Information on dairy intake was self-reported. Men were categorized as consumers and nonconsumers of milk, yogur..