Objective: Milk consuming has decreased drastically in all the world during the last decades. The objective of this study was to investigate the average consumption of milk in Brazilian university students. 

 

Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional, observational and prospective study involving undergraduate medical students. An online questionnaire was submitted by the Undergraduate Teaching Committe to 312 students. Questions regarding age, gender, frequency and amount of whole milk intake and of lactose-free milk and non-lactose derivatives, and bowel movements and fecal appearance (Bristol Scale) were included. We analysed consuming frequencies according to age, gender and adequacy to Health Ministry recommendation. 

 

Results: 312 students sent their answers, age range 16-48years, 80.5% ≤24years, 57% women. 72% reported consumption of whole milk and about 50% consumption of ≥250ml a day, 11% ingested milk without lactose and 17% reported not ingesting milk. Among non-consumers, 32% consumed dairy products daily, 35% sporadically and 17% did not ingest milk or dairy products. 70% informed daily bowel habit, 24% 3x/week and 6%≤3x/week (68% women). Regarding to faecal aspect, 50% considered Bristol 3, and of these, 72% consumed milk with lactose. 11% described their stools as softened to diarrhea, with 46% of them failing to ingest or ingest lactose-free milk, 40% indicated hard to pass. 

 

Conclusions: Milk consumption lower than dietary recommendations was observed in 30% of the students. Women over the age of 24 represented the demographic profile with the lowest percentages of milk consumption.