International Journal of Food Properties

Dairy and Digestion: Health Outcomes and Opportunities

Although once under scrutiny, dairy consumption has shown a steady upward trend, likely driven by its high nutrient density, overall quality, and long-standing role in human diets. Dairy products provide high-quality protein, desirable sensory attributes, low-fat and low-calorie options, essential micronutrients (e.g., calcium), and bioactive compounds (e.g., milk fat globule membrane components). Many dairy products are also minimally processed, aligning with current consumer preferences for less processed foods.

While the composition of dairy products varies, their core components—water, fats, proteins (casein and whey), and micronutrients such as minerals—have been integral to human nutrition for over 10,000 years. Recent consumer trends have renewed interest in dairy, particularly high-protein products (e.g., cottage cheese, Greek yogurt) and protein supplements (e.g., isolates). At the same time, indulgent, high-fat options (e.g., premium ice cream) have gained popularity, reflecting a growing acceptance of dairy fat and coinciding with evolving perspectives on dietary fat and its role in health.

Modern research increasingly focuses on the complexity of the dairy food matrix and its components as an avenue to support human health. Current health trends include personalized nutrition (i.e., tailoring diets to individual needs), gut health, weight management, and others, with consumers implementing targeted nutrition strategies to achieve the health outcomes they desire (e.g., emotional wellness, sleep optimization). Furthermore, emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence, clinical interventions (e.g., GLP-1 agonists), wearable devices, and biotechnology (e.g., genetic profiling)—are reshaping the nutrition landscape. These shifts have intensified the focus on nutrient bioavailability, digestive physiology, and individual responses to foods. Within this context, understanding how dairy components are digested, absorbed, and metabolized is essential for leveraging dairy’s contributions to health across the lifespan. Collectively, these developments have heightened consumer attention on diet and well-being, positioning dairy as a relevant and marketable contributor in this space.

This Article Collection aims to gather high-quality research focused on the impact of dairy food on human health, primarily as it relates to digestion. We invite submissions of original research articles, reviews, and short communications that explore the intersection of dairy food processing, nutrition, and digestive physiology. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• The influence of the dairy matrix and processing methods on digestion and nutrient bioavailability
• The digestion of specific dairy components: lactose, milkfat, protein, minerals, and other minor constituents.
• The role of dairy foods in personalized nutrition for specific populations (e.g., infants, elderly, athletes) as well as strategies to optimize their use in these applications.
• The role of dairy co-products or processing innovations to enhance nutritional efficiency and digestion outcomes, sustainability, and functional health outcomes across the lifespan.

Keywords: Dairy foods, Digestion/Nutrient bioavailability, Personalized nutrition, Human health, Functional dairy ingredients/Healthy aging

Guest Advisors

Dr. Grace Lewis, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and Dairy Innovation Hub Affiliate at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. Lewis's research objectives target improved human health, with applications for both the food and pharmaceutical industries. Along with her research, Grace teaches various dairy manufacturing-related courses and short courses, and she is the coach for the UW-River Falls Dairy Products Evaluation Team and Dairy Management Inc. New Product Competition Team. She also serves as a section editor for the Journal of Dairy Science. Here is the link to her ORCID page: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7620-5844.

Dr. Gulustan Ozturk, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a Dairy Innovation Hub Faculty member. Dr. Ozturk's research program focuses on the discovery and utilization of bioactive compounds in milk and dairy co-products, with emphasis on sustainable valorization strategies that enhance nutrient bioavailability—including choline, an essential nutrient—and support bone and gut health in aging populations, particularly postmenopausal women. In addition to her research, she teaches integrated food manufacturing. Dr. Ozturk also contributes to the dairy science community through service on the Editorial Boards of JDS Communications and the International Journal of Food Properties. Here is the link to her ORCID page: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7862-1810.

Dr. Caroline Thum, PhD, is currently a Senior Scientist at Smart Foods, Bioeconomy Science Institute, and an Associate Investigator at the Riddet Institute. Dr. Thum's research program emphasizes the development of bioactive food solutions, particularly in dairy science and early-life nutrition, leveraging both in vivo and in vitro methodologies. Her work is pivotal in advancing understanding of gut health and the role of nutrition in long-term health outcomes, with a specific focus on infant health and dietary recommendations. In her academic role, she holds leadership positions and serves in editorial roles, significantly contributing to scientific discourse within the nutrition community. In addition to her research, Dr. Thum actively engages in collaborative projects across national and international networks, driving innovation in bioactive food development and nutritional interventions. Here is the link to her ORCID page: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9823-1012.

Disclosure statement: All Guest Advisors declare no conflict of interest.

­­All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo desk assessment and peer review as part of our standard editorial process; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope  and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is December 31st, 2026.

Please contact Ruby Ru at [email protected]  with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

To submit your papers to this Article Collection, please:

1. Check "yes" for the question, "Are you submitting your paper for a specific special issue or article collection?"
2. Select the relevant Article Collection from the drop-down menu under the question, "Special Issue or Article Collection Name."