ABSTRACT
Background Health-related quality of life (HRQL) is a global indicator of perceived
health status, which includes physical and mental domains. Several biological mechanisms
might support an association between consumption of yogurt and better HRQL.
Objective Our aim was to assess the association between habitual yogurt consumption
and HRQL in the general adult population.
Design We conducted a prospective study with 4,445 individuals aged 18 years and
older who were recruited in 2008 to 2010 and were followed up to 2012. Habitual
yogurt consumption was assessed at baseline with a validated diet history. HRQL was
measured with the Physical Composite Summary and the Mental Composite Summary
of the Spanish version of the SF-12 Health Survey. The analysis of the association between
baseline yogurt consumption and HRQL at 2012 was performed with linear
regression and adjusted for the main confounders, including baseline HRQL.
Results Mean follow-up was 3.5 years (standard deviation¼0.6 years). Compared with
nonconsumers of yogurt, the Physical Composite Summary scores were similar in
habitual consumers of 6 servings/week (b¼.40; P¼0.20) and in consumers of 1
serving/day (b¼.25; P¼0.45). A suggestion of tendency toward a lower Mental Composite
Summary score was found among daily yogurt consumers (b¼.65; P¼0.09; P for
trend across categories¼0.07). Results were similar among individuals without
morbidity, never smokers, and individuals with higher adherence to the Mediterranean
diet.
Conclusions Habitual yogurt consumption did not show an association with improved