Milk has long been known for its ability to help build strong bones, but new research suggests milk may also provide benefits for brain health.

A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed a correlation between milk consumption and the levels of a naturally occurring antioxidant called glutathione in the brain in older, healthy adults.

Glutathione (GSH) provides countless health benefits related to brain, immune, joint, eye and lung health, noted Kate Lloyd in her INSIDER article, “Glutathione: Stepping into the Antioxidant Spotlight," but has not gained the recognition it deserves in the marketplace.  

The researchers asked the 60 participants in the study about their diets in the days leading up to brain scans, which they used to monitor levels of the GSH in the brain. The researchers found that participants who had indicated they had drunk milk recently had higher levels of GSH in their brains.

As Lloyd wrote, GSH plays an important role in the brain; some of GSH’s important roles in the body include protecting the most sensitive organelle, such as the mitochondria, and cell membranes from oxidative damage.

The new study showed that the closer older adults came to the recommended three servings of dairy per day, the higher their levels of glutathione were. A randomized, controlled trial that seeks to determine the precise effect of milk consumption on the brain is still needed and is a logical next step to this study, the researchers concluded.

To read Lloyd’s complete article on GSH, including insight on branding and consumer perception of the antioxidant, download the complete Digital Issue.