The Study
Cheese consumption and multiple health outcomes: an umbrella review and updated meta-analysis of prospective studies
This study looked at lots of other studies that watched people over time to see if eating cheese was linked to getting sick less. It found that people who ate cheese sometimes had fewer heart problems or lived longer, but it didn't prove cheese caused that — maybe those people just ate better overall.
Analysis score
Maximum 85 for a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Where the score came from
Scientists looked at lots of studies to see if eating cheese helps or hurts your health.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 560 / 100
Quality score
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of cohort studies. They sit above a single cohort study but below a single randomized trial, because the underlying evidence is still observational.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1These are modest benefits — like eating a slice of cheese daily might help you live a little longer and avoid some common diseases, but it’s not a magic cure.
- 2People who ate about 40 grams of cheese a day (a little over an ounce) had 5% lower risk of dying early, 8% lower risk of heart disease, 7% lower risk of stroke, 7% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, 10% lower risk of broken bones, and 19% lower risk of dementia.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Advances in Nutrition
Year
2023
Authors
Mingjie Zhang, Xiaocong Dong, Zi-hui Huang, Xia Li, Yue Zhao, Yingyao Wang, Hui-lian Zhu, A. Fang, E. Giovannucci
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Claims (10)
Eating cheese in moderate amounts is linked to health benefits, but eating more than that does not lead to greater benefits.
People who eat cheese have the same or lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who eat less cheese.
Eating cheese, regardless of how much, does not increase the risk of dying from any cause.
It is not yet known how eating cheese might affect the risk of death.
People who eat about 30 grams of cheese every day have a lower risk of dying from any cause compared to those who do not.
Eating moderate amounts of cheese is associated with lower risk of death from any cause, but eating more than moderate amounts does not lower risk further.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.