Dietary Ewe's Yogurt Intake Selectively Modulates HDL Subfractions Without Altering LDL Particle Size in Women: A...

Background/Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the metabolic response of women to a six-week consumption of full-fat sheep milk yogurt, with a focus on cardiovascular risk markers, lipid profile, and subfractions of low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins of both atherogenic and non-atherogenic nature. Methods: A total of 55 women were enrolled in the nutritional intervention after the application of inclusion criteria. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after the six-week intervention period. Lipoprotein subfractions were determined in serum using the Lipoprint System LDL/HDL Subfractions Kit in combination with the Lipoprint^® analyzer. Results: In the group of women over 40 years of age with overweight or obesity, without adjustment for total cholesterol, a significant increase was observed in selected HDL subfractions (intermediate HDL-6, HDL-7 and small HDL-8, HDL-9; p < 0.05), while the small/large HDL ratio, LDL subfractions, and mean LDL particle size remained unchanged (p > 0.05). A decrease in triglycerides, LDL/HDL ratio, TG/HDL ratio, and cardiovascular risk index was recorded, alongside a slight increase in LDL-C and HDL-C levels. After adjustment for total cholesterol (T-C), no significant deterioration in the lipid profile was observed in either the group with normal or elevated T-C levels; in the group with elevated T-C, only the intermediate HDL-7 subfraction increased significantly (p < 0.05). Despite the presence of risk-level values in some parameters already at baseline (VLDL, IDL-A, IDL-B, small HDL), no worsening was observed. Conclusions: Six-week consumption of full-fat sheep milk yogurt did not lead to deterioration of the lipid profile or lipoprotein subfractions. The results suggest a neutral to mildly beneficial effect on selected cardiovascular risk markers.