Dairy fat and fermentation: surprising effects on gut bugs and heart risk?

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age \>50 years 2. Men and postmenopausal women 3. BMI \>25 and \<35 kg/m2 4. No milk allergy, lactose intolerance or adherence to vegan or other dietary pattern that excludes dairy products 5. Non-smoker 6. Usual pattern of bowel movements at least every other day. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Women and men \<50 years 2. Women, pre- or peri-menopausal 3. BMI \<25 and \>35 kg/m2 4. Current smokers or former smoker who quit \< 6 months 5. Use of nicotine replacement products within last 6 months 6. Replacement or gender affirming hormonal therapy use 7. Weight gain of \>15 pounds within last 6 months 8. Infrequent bowel movements 9. History of anemia within past 2 years or confirmation of anemia at first study visit 10. Blood donation within last 2 months 11. Untreated hypertension 12. Oral antibiotics use within 2 weeks of study entry 13. Steroid use (including dental prophylaxis use within 2 wks prior to or during study, except non-prescription topical and nasal steroids, e. g. Flonase) 14. Use of lipid lowering medications 15. Chronic use of aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS), laxatives, anti-diarrheal medication 16. Regular use (\>2 times per week) of acid lowering medication: antacids, proton pump inhibitors, or H2 Blockers. 17. Use of dietary supplements other than multi-vitamins, including pre- and probiotics, within 2 months of study entry 18. Milk allergy, lactose intolerance or adherence to vegan or other dietary patterns that exclude dairy products 19. Colonoscopy within 3 weeks of study entry or during study period 20. Diagnosis of malabsorption, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease), cirrhosis, history of gastrointestinal resection (other than appendectomy), chronic pancreatitis or any other chronic GI disease that in the opinion of the study physician would alter the study results 21. Chronic heart, liver, thyroid, renal or kidney disease 22. Type I or type II diabetes 23. Alcohol consumption \>7 drinks/week for women and \>14 drinks/week for men 24. Inadequate refrigerator storage capacity to store 21 8-oz containers of milk or yogurt 25. Participation in other dietary intervention research study during the same time 26. No social security number 27. Not willing to commit to adhering to the protocol