For studies of a similar design and which assessed the same outcomes in similar population groups , we report the potential for the combining of data across studies in systematic review s. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review has revealed the extensive evidence base for many outcomes which could be the focus of systematic review s exploring the health effects of conventional yogurt consumption
BACKGROUND The health effects of conventional yogurt have been investigated for over a century ; however , few systematic review s have been conducted to assess the extent of the health benefits of yogurt .
OBJECTIVE The aim of this scoping review was to assess the volume of available evidence on the health effects of conventional yogurt .
Safety aspects and cholesterol-lowering efficacy of low fat dairy products containing plant sterols
Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate whether a plant sterol mixture would reduce serum cholesterol when added to low fat dairy products in subjects with hypercholesterolaemia , and to examine the effects of the mixture on the serum plant sterol and fat-soluble vitamin levels . Design : A parallel , double-blind study . Setting : The study was performed in three different locations in Finl and .Subjects : In total , 164 mildly or moderately hypercholesterolaemic subjects participated in the study . Methods : The subjects were r and omly divided into two groups : a plant sterol group and a control group . The subjects consumed the products for 6 weeks after a 3-week run-in period . The targeted plant sterol intake was 2 g/day in the sterol group . Results : During the treatment period , there was a 6.5 % reduction in serum total cholesterol in the sterol group while no change was observed in the control group ( P<0.0005 ) . Serum low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol was reduced by 10.4 % in the sterol group and by 0.6 % in the control group ( P<0.00005 ) . There was no change during the trial in serum high-density lipoprotein ( HDL ) cholesterol or triacylglycerol concentrations . The HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio increased by 16.1 % in the sterol group and by 4.3 % in the control group ( P=0.0001 ) . Serum plant sterol levels increased significantly ( P=0.0001 ) in the sterol group . None of the fat-soluble vitamin levels decreased significantly when changes in serum total cholesterol were taken into account . The hypocholesterolaemic effect of sterol administration was not influenced by apolipoprotein E phenotype . Conclusions : Yoghurt , low-fat hard cheese and low-fat fresh cheese enriched with a plant sterol mixture reduced serum cholesterol  in hypercholesterolaemic subjects and no adverse effects were noted in the dietary control of hypercholesterolaemia
For studies of a similar design and which assessed the same outcomes in similar population groups , we report the potential for the combining of data across studies in systematic review s. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review has revealed the extensive evidence base for many outcomes which could be the focus of systematic review s exploring the health effects of conventional yogurt consumption
BACKGROUND The health effects of conventional yogurt have been investigated for over a century ; however , few systematic review s have been conducted to assess the extent of the health benefits of yogurt .
OBJECTIVE The aim of this scoping review was to assess the volume of available evidence on the health effects of conventional yogurt .