Dietary enrichment of milk and dairy products with n-3 fatty acids: A review

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 alpha-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. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.