MiLiCa – Milk Lipids for Cardiometabolic Health

Medium‑chain fatty acids (MCFAs) with 8-12 carbon atoms make up around 10 % of total milk fat. While milk proteins and micronutrients have been intensively studied, the potential cardiovascular effects of milk fat components are still not well understood. Preliminary studies indicate that intake of MCFAs can acutely improve heart function and reduce resistance in blood vessels in healthy individuals.

By: Anne Lau Heckmann

MCFAs are different from long‑chain fatty acids as they are absorbed directly into circulation and rapidly metabolised in the liver, leading to increased fat oxidation and ketone body production. Ketones can serve as an important energy source for the heart, especially when the heart is not working at its best. New research also suggests that MCFAs may directly affect blood vessels by helping them relax and widen. This can improve blood flow and make it easier for the heart to pump. However, the exact biological mechanisms behind these effects are still not fully understood.

The objective of MiLiCa is to uncover how MCFAs influence cardiovascular function and to assess whether their beneficial effects extend beyond healthy individuals to patients with heart failure. The project combines mechanistic studies in transgenic mouse models, isolated human and animal tissues and clinical studies in patients with reduced cardiac function. Firstly, it will be investigated how MCFA affects the heart and blood vessels, using special mice not producing ketones and isolated tissues to understand whether the effects are direct or linked to changes in the body’s energy system. This helps to identify the key biological processes behind the effects. In the second part, they will test whether these fats can help relax blood vessels and improve the heart’s pumping ability in patients with heart failure. This integrated approach allows the researchers to disentangle direct effects of MCFAs from those related to ketone production and to translate fundamental insights into a clinically relevant context.

By providing new knowledge on the cardiometabolic effects of milk-derived fatty acids, MiLiCa aims to strengthen the scientific foundation for future dairy innovation. If MCFAs are shown to improve vascular and cardiac function in individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease, the results may open new opportunities for developing MCFA‑enriched dairy products.