Cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure effects of immune milk.

The plasma cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure effects of a skim milk powder (immune milk) produced from dairy cows hyperimmunized with a multivalent bacterial vaccine were assessed in a double-blind crossover study of hypercholesterolemic subjects who consumed daily 90 g immune milk or a normal product. There was a significant reduction in plasma total and LDL cholesterol of 5.2% (95% CI 2.5, 7.9) and 7.4% (95% CI 4.1, 10.7), respectively, with 10 wk of immune milk consumption compared with control, but no change in HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. A significant systolic and diastolic blood pressure-lowering effect (5 and 4 mm Hg, respectively) was also demonstrated. Thus, immune milk may be a useful adjunct in the dietary management of hypercholesterolemia and the mechanisms of its cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure effects warrant further study.