Milkfat

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Childhood obesity risk²

  Children who drank whole milk were less likely to have obesity, but it is unclear if milkfat is the cause.

Animal and lab studies only

• Open question

  Cancer protection⁵

  In lab and animal studies, milkfat parts like butyric acid and CLA showed anticancer effects, but human evidence is limited and inconsistent.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Cancer risk³

  Some compounds in milkfat may fight cancer, but studies in people are needed to know if eating it lowers cancer risk.

How it’s made and used

• Dairy fat composition⁴

  In cattle, changing what cows eat can change the fats in milkfat.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.