Whole milk versus skim milk effects on cholesterol and blood sugar
Official title: Gauging Outcomes of Total Milk Ingestion on Lipid and gControl
Run by University of California, San Francisco · NCT07087184 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether drinking whole milk or skim milk for two months at a time changes cholesterol and insulin resistance in adults who regularly drink milk.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 110 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Francisco, California) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | July 24, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 2027 |
| Study ends | August 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07087184 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults (≥18) who regularly drink at least one cup of dairy milk most days, have a smartphone, can use the Eureka app, are English-speaking, and do not have diabetes, lactose intolerance, recent myocardial infarction, or familial hypercholesterolemia.
✕Probably not a fit
People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, lactose intolerance, familial hypercholesterolemia, a history of myocardial infarction, or those planning to change cholesterol treatment are excluded and unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is an N-of-1 randomized crossover trial in which each participant is assigned to limit their liquid milk to whole milk for two months and then skim milk for two months, or the reverse order. Lab tests including hemoglobin A1c and fasting lipids are performed at two and four months to measure changes in glycemic markers and blood lipids. Participants use the Eureka mobile app and continuously wear a wrist fitness tracker, Bluetooth scale, and blood pressure monitor to record weight, blood pressure, activity, and milk intake while keeping other aspects of their diet constant. A total of 100 adults who regularly consume at least one cup of milk daily will be enrolled at UCSF.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could help milk-drinking adults and their clinicians choose whole versus skim milk to better manage cholesterol and markers of insulin resistance.
How similar studies have gone: Prior observational and randomized work on dairy fat and cardiometabolic risk has been mixed, and N-of-1 randomized crossover trials comparing whole versus skim milk are relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Are age ≥18 years * Have a smartphone * Are able to use the Eureka mobile application * Consume, on average, at least one cup of dairy milk daily, at least 5 days per week Exclusion Criteria: * Non-English speaker * Are lactose intolerant * History of myocardial infarction * History of type I or type II diabetes * Familial hypercholesterolemia * Plan to change treatment for cholesterol * Are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant * Unable to read or sign to provide informed consent
Where it's running
-
UCSF Medical Center at Parnassus
San Francisco, California, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Gregory M Marcus, MD, MAS — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Gregory M Marcus, MD, MAS
- Email: greg.marcus@ucsf.edu
- Phone: 415-476-5706
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.