In May 2019 researchers from Spain published their review of the medical scientific literature to assess the effects of consuming fortified dairy products on cardiometabolic risk factors. A total of 41 studies were included the review where the dairy products had been fortified with phytosterols (31 studies), fatty acids (8 studies), and vitamin D (2 studies). Results showed that phytosterol-fortified dairy products led to an overall reduction of LDL(bad)-cholesterol, the level of reduction being was related to the amount of phytosterol. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-fortified dairy products was able to reduce both LDL(bad)-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. An analysis on the consumption of dairy products fortified with vitamin D or fatty acids other than omega-3 was not really possible due to the lack of available publications. Further research on the topic is required.
Soto-Méndez MJ et al. Role of Functional Fortified Dairy Products in Cardiometabolic Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses of Randomized Clinical Trials.Adv Nutr. 2019 May 1;10(suppl_2):S251-S271