The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 60 per cent of the world's cardiac patients will be Indian by 2010, meaning that heart disease will be a bigger problem there than in America.

Dr Gulati has been to India on a 2007 Endeavour Executive Fellowship from the Department of Education, Science and Training. He has been working in the village of Kadodra in Gujarat, where milk from the local Jaffarabadi buffaloes has an exceptionally high milk fat content of 8 per cent.

By feeding the buffaloes 'good fats' in the form of conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) supplements, "we were able to reduce milk fat content by as much as 30 per cent and increase the levels of healthier fatty acids," said Dr Gulati.

"There is a world-wide demand for dairy products, infant formula and functional foods with higher levels of good fats such as omega-3 and CLA which are associated with health benefits," he said.

Previously Dr Gulati worked with the same farmers to improve milk production in a country where the vast majority of village dairy farmers are women tending just one or two cows or buffaloes for their livelihood.

Source: News-Medical.net