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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteA 2026 review found no meaningful blood-lipid differences in controlled trials of dairy foods with different levels of naturally occurring trans fats, and no association between dairy trans-fat markers and several cardiometabolic outcomes in prospective cohorts. That is evidence about dairy-derived trans fats and the outcomes studied—not proof that every kind of trans fat is harmless. The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to recommend limiting total trans-fat intake and eliminating industrially produced trans fats.
What the 2026 review found
The paper, “Trans fatty acids from dairy foods do not affect risk of cardiometabolic diseases,” was published in Nutrition Research, volume 150, pages 33–48, in June 2026; PubMed lists online publication on March 27, 2026. Its authors reviewed evidence from randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies. The University of Reading’s account describes 22 studies: 10 controlled dietary trials and 12 prospective cohorts. PubMed bibliographic record; University of Reading release distributed by ScienceDaily.
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Controlled dietary trials
The trials compared regular dairy foods with dairy products containing naturally enhanced levels of trans fats. The university release reports no meaningful differences in blood-lipid biomarkers. It gives a trans-fat intake range of 1.3 to 13.2 grams per day among trial participants; that is the release’s reported range across the trials, not a measure of ordinary dairy consumption.
Prospective cohort studies
The release says the cohorts found no association between higher circulating levels of dairy trans fats and heart disease, stroke, cardiovascular death, or type 2 diabetes. These are null findings: the studies did not detect an association for those markers and outcomes. They do not establish that risk is exactly zero, or that the result applies to every population, exposure level, or health outcome.
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Natural dairy trans fats and industrial trans fats are different sources
Trans fats are unsaturated fatty acids. Some occur naturally in meat and dairy from ruminant animals; industrially produced trans fats have commonly come from partially hydrogenated oils. The review focused on dairy-derived trans fats. It did not test industrial trans fats as a category or overturn evidence and policy concerning partially hydrogenated oils.
| Question | Dairy-derived trans fats in this review | Industrially produced trans fats |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Occur naturally in foods from ruminant animals, including dairy. | Commonly associated with partially hydrogenated oils. |
| Evidence discussed here | Controlled dietary trials assessed blood-lipid biomarkers; cohorts assessed circulating dairy trans-fat markers against specified health outcomes. | The dairy review does not establish effects for this source. WHO guidance and U.S. FDA policy address industrially produced trans fats separately. |
| What the finding means | No meaningful lipid differences or associations were reported for the evidence and outcomes described by the University of Reading. | The dairy findings should not be used to infer safety or negate recommendations concerning industrial trans fats. |
WHO’s 2024 fact sheet takes a broader position: it says both natural and industrial trans fats are harmful and recommends keeping total trans-fat intake below 1% of energy. For a 2,000-calorie diet, WHO expresses that limit as less than 2.2 grams per day. It also calls for industrially produced trans fats to be eliminated. WHO estimates that intake of industrially produced trans fats is associated with more than 278,000 deaths globally each year; that estimate concerns industrial trans fats, not the dairy review. WHO: Trans fat.
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Does this change advice about trans fats?
No. The review offers evidence about dairy-derived trans fats and specific outcomes; it does not recommend increasing dairy intake or replacing public-health guidance. WHO’s recommendation is to limit total trans fats, while specifically eliminating industrially produced trans fats.
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In the United States, the FDA determined in 2015 that partially hydrogenated oils were no longer generally recognized as safe for most food uses, with subsequent compliance dates. In 2023, the FDA issued a rule removing outdated references to these oils from regulations. The agency notes that naturally occurring trans fats in meat and dairy were not affected. These are U.S.-specific regulatory actions, not a description of law in every country. U.S. FDA: Trans Fat; U.S. FDA: Final Determination Regarding Partially Hydrogenated Oils.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read the result in context
- Evidence type matters: controlled feeding trials and prospective cohorts answer different questions. The former compared diets and measured blood-lipid biomarkers; the latter examined associations between circulating dairy-fat markers and later outcomes.
- “No association” is not “no possible risk”: a null result means the studies did not detect a relationship for the measures and outcomes assessed. It does not prove no effect in all circumstances.
- The conclusion is source-specific: findings on trans fats naturally present in dairy cannot be generalized to industrially produced trans fats.
- Author affiliations are context, not a verdict: the paper’s affiliations include dairy-industry organizations as well as the University of Reading. That is relevant transparency for readers, but affiliations alone do not establish bias or invalidate the results.
The journal record also lists a corrigendum in Nutrition Research, volume 152, in August 2026. The correction’s contents are not established here, so the study’s exact estimates and strong conclusions should be read with that publication record in mind. ScienceDirect journal record.
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