Milk polar lipids favorably alter circulating and intestinal ceramide and sphingomyelin species in postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND. High circulating levels of ceramides (Cer) and sphingomyelins (SM) are associated with cardiometabolic diseases. The consumption of whole fat dairy products, naturally containing such polar lipids (PL), is associated with health benefits, but the impact on sphingolipidome remains unknown. METHODS. In a 4-week randomized controlled trial, 58 postmenopausal women daily consumed milk PL-enriched cream cheese (0, 3, or 5 g of milk PL). Postprandial metabolic explorations were performed before and after supplementation. Analyses included SM and Cer species in serum, chylomicrons, and feces. The ileal contents of 4 ileostomy patients were also explored after acute milk PL intake. RESULTS. Milk PL decreased serum atherogenic C24:1 Cer, C16:1 SM, and C18:1 SM species (P-group < 0.05). Changes in serum C16+18 SM species were positively correlated with the reduction of cholesterol (r = 0.706), LDL-C (r = 0.666), and ApoB (r = 0.705) (P < 0.001). Milk PL decreased chylomicron content in total SM and C24:1 Cer (P-group < 0.001), parallel to a marked increase in total Cer in feces (P-group < 0.001). Milk PL modulated some specific SM and Cer species in both ileal efflux and feces, suggesting differential absorption and metabolization processes in the gut. CONCLUSION. Milk PL supplementation decreased atherogenic SM and Cer species associated with the improvement of cardiovascular risk markers. Our findings bring insights on sphingolipid metabolism in the gut, especially Cer, as signaling molecules potentially participating in the beneficial effects of milk PL.

Automated summary

The study showed that milk polar lipid (PL) supplementation can reduce atherogenic sphingomyelins (SM) and ceramides (Cer) in the serum, associated with improvements in cardiovascular risk markers. Milk PL modulated specific SM and Cer species in the gut, suggesting their potential involvement in the beneficial effects of milk PL.