Edam cheese: the trials are on cheddar, and cheese beat butter

We found no trial on Edam itself, so every effect on this page comes from studies of hard and semi-hard cheese, mostly cheddar. The strongest is a meta-analysis of 7 RCTs. Adults who ate about 4.8 oz (135 g) of such cheese a day for at least 14 days had LDL cholesterol 7.3 mg/dL (0.19 mmol/L) lower (95% CI 0.12 to 0.27 lower) than when they got the same fat from about 52 g of butter. Every one of those trials carried some concerns for bias. That is a comparison with butter. It tells you nothing about adding cheese to a diet that had none. On composition, UK tables give Edam 26.7 g protein, 26.0 g fat (15.8 g saturated), 795 mg calcium and 996 mg sodium per 3.5 oz (100 g), from a single record with no sample range and no stated ripening age. A standard 21 g US slice works out at about 167 mg calcium.

The numbers, per 3.5 oz (100 g)

How much is actually in it

• UK composition tables list Edam at 26.7 g protein, 26.0 g fat (15.8 g saturated), 795 mg calcium and 996 mg sodium per 3.5 oz (100 g). — CoFID 2021 composite record 12-355, Cheese, Edam (n = -) Evidence E source
  Per 100 g: energy 341 calories, protein 26.7 g, fat 26.0 g, saturated 15.8 g, calcium 795 mg, sodium 996 mg, vitamin B12 2.1 ug, lactose trace

What a real portion looks like

• A typical US slice of Gouda or Edam weighs 21 g and a cracker-size slice 9 g, so one slice gives about 167 mg calcium on UK composition values. — USDA FNDDS food code 14105010, Cheese, Gouda or Edam (n = -) Evidence E source
  1 slice 21 g; 1 cubic inch 17 g; 1 cup diced 132 g; 1 package (7 oz) 198 g

What your body absorbs

• In a crossover RCT in 24 young adults, protein from Cheddar cheese entered the blood more slowly than from milk, with amino acids peaking at about 120 min and a lower glycemic profile. — 24 healthy adults (12 men, 12 women), about 27 years, single test meals of 20 g protein (n = 24) Evidence B source
  Branched-chain amino acids peak at ~120 min after cheese; lower glycemic profile than milk
• In a crossover RCT in 18 young men, fat eaten as cheddar cheese raised blood triglycerides 21 mg/dL (0.24 mmol/L) less than the same fat and protein as a casein gel. — normal-weight men aged 18-40, 18 completed, single fat- and protein-matched dairy meals, 8 h follow-up (n = 18) Evidence B source
  Postprandial TG +0.24 +/- 6.2 mg/dL (0.07 mmol/L) after casein gel vs cheese (P<=0.05); apoB-48 unaffected

What cooking and storage change

• In a 6-week RCT in 162 overweight adults aged 50 and over, eating 4.2 oz (120 g) cheddar a day melted rather than unmelted raised total cholesterol by 7.7 mg/dL (0.20 mmol/L) and triglycerides by 15 mg/dL (0.17 mmol/L). — 162 overweight adults aged 50 years and over, 120 g full-fat cheddar per day for 6 weeks (n = 162) Evidence B source
  Total cholesterol +0.20 +/- 5.8 mg/dL (0.15 mmol/L), triglycerides +0.17 +/- 7.1 mg/dL (0.08 mmol/L), melted vs unmelted; no difference in LDL or HDL

What it does to your health

• A meta-analysis of 7 RCTs found that about 135 g/day of hard or semi-hard cheese for at least 14 days lowered LDL cholesterol by 7.3 mg/dL (0.19 mmol/L) compared with about 52 g/day of butter. — adults in 7 RCTs, hard or semi-hard cheese vs butter matched for fat, at least 14 days (n = 7 RCTs) Evidence A source
  LDL-C WMD -7.3 mg/dL (95% CI -10 to -4.6; metric: -0.19 mmol/L, -0.27 to -0.12); total cholesterol -0.24 (-0.34 to -0.15); HDL-C -0.04 (-0.08 to -0.00)
• A meta-analysis of 5 RCTs in healthy adults found that about 145 g/day of hard cheese lowered LDL cholesterol by 6.5% compared with butter of similar fat quality. — healthy adults in 5 RCTs, hard cheese vs butter with similar P/S ratio (n = 5 RCTs) Evidence A source
  LDL-C -6.5% (-8.5 mg/dL (95% CI -11 to -5.4; metric: -0.22 mmol/L, -0.29 to -0.14)); HDL-C -3.9% (-1.9 mg/dL (95% CI -3.5 to -0.77; metric: -0.05 mmol/L, -0.09 to -0.02)); triglycerides unchanged

Safety, limits and interactions

• Laboratory studies of ripening cheese most often report tyramine and histamine at high levels, and their build-up depends on ripening time, temperature, salt and moisture. — 14 laboratory studies of cheese ripening, 2010-2024 (n = 14 studies) Evidence D source
  Tyramine and histamine most frequently high; selected strains cut total biogenic amines by up to 80%

What people believe that the data does not support

• The EU refused the claim that milk and cheese promote dental health in children. — EU health claim application, dairy products (milk and cheese) (n = -) Evidence E source
  Status Non-authorized
• The EU refused the claim that dairy foods, including cheese, help weight loss in an energy-restricted diet. — EU health claim application, low-fat dairy including cheese (n = -) Evidence E source
  Status Non-authorized

Who this works differently for

• In pooled data from two 6-week RCTs in 197 middle-aged adults eating 4.2 oz (120 g) cheese a day, cheese lowered LDL cholesterol in women, while the same nutrients given as butter, calcium caseinate and a calcium supplement raised it. — 197 middle-aged adults (41.6% male), 120 g cheese or deconstructed cheese per day for 6 weeks (n = 197) Evidence B source
  Within women: cheese lowered total and LDL cholesterol, deconstructed cheese raised them; no formal sex x treatment interaction
• In a 4-week crossover RCT in 19 mildly hypercholesterolemic adults, 40 g/day dairy fat as matured cheddar gave LDL of 151 vs 170 mg/dL (3.9 vs 4.4 mmol/L) with butter among those starting above 155 mg/dL (4 mmol/L). — 14 men and 5 women, mean age 56, mean total cholesterol 217 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L), 40 g dairy fat daily for 4 weeks (n = 19) Evidence B source
  LDL-C 3.9 +/- 0.3 (cheese) vs 4.4 +/- 12 mg/dL (0.3 mmol/L) (butter), P=0.014, in 13 with baseline LDL-C >155 mg/dL (4 mmol/L)

What is still unknown

• USDA and UK tables disagree on Edam: vitamin B12 1.54 vs 2.1 ug and saturated fat 18.67 vs 15.8 g per 3.5 oz (100 g), and neither gives a sample range. — USDA SR Legacy FDC 173419 vs CoFID 2021 12-355 (n = -) Evidence E source
  B12 differs by 27%, saturated fat by 15%, calcium 731 vs 795 mg (8%)

The bottom line

A second meta-analysis, of 5 RCTs in healthy adults and partly built on the same trials, found about 5.1 oz (145 g) of hard cheese a day lowered LDL by 6.5% (8.5 mg/dL (95% CI 5.4 to 11; metric: 0.22 mmol/L, 0.14 to 0.29)) against butter of similar fat quality. HDL fell too, by 3.9%, and triglycerides did not change. Melting seems to matter. In a 6-week RCT in 162 overweight adults aged 50 and over who ate 4.2 oz (120 g) of cheddar daily, the melted form raised total cholesterol by 7.7 mg/dL (0.20 mmol/L) and triglycerides by 15 mg/dL (0.17 mmol/L) compared with the same cheese unmelted. LDL and HDL showed no significant difference, and this is one trial on cheddar. In a single-meal crossover trial in 24 healthy adults around 27 years old, protein from cheddar reached the blood more slowly than protein from milk, peaking at about 120 minutes with a lower glycemic profile. Two smaller results point at who may notice the difference most. In 19 adults with mildly raised cholesterol, mean age 56, eating 40 g of dairy fat a day for 4 weeks, the 13 who started with LDL above 155 mg/dL (4 mmol/L) ended at 151 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) on cheese and 170 mg/dL (4.4 mmol/L) on butter. Pooled data from two 6-week trials in 197 middle-aged adults showed cheese lowering total and LDL cholesterol in women, while a mix of butter, calcium caseinate and a calcium supplement raised them. The formal test for a difference between the sexes was not significant, so treat this as a lead to follow up. The caution we have is from the laboratory. A review of 14 studies of ripening cheese found tyramine and histamine most often at high levels, depending on ripening time, temperature, salt and moisture, with no human outcomes and no measurement in Edam. That is relevant mainly to people on MAOI antidepressants or with histamine intolerance. We have no card on pregnancy, children or allergy for this cheese. The EU refused two claims involving cheese, that dairy promotes dental health in children and that dairy helps weight loss on an energy-restricted diet. A refusal means the evidence was judged insufficient at assessment. It does not prove there is no effect. The reference tables also disagree with each other: USDA lists 1.54 ug vitamin B12, 18.67 g saturated fat and 731 mg calcium per 3.5 oz (100 g), against 2.1 ug, 15.8 g and 795 mg in the UK record, and neither gives a sample range.

Sources

1. edm-r3-01 · reference dataset
   CoFID 2021 12-355 Cheese, Edam: Energy (kcal) 341; Protein (g) 26.7; Fat (g) 26.0; Satd FA /100g fd (g) 15.80; Calcium (mg) 795; Sodium (mg) 996; Vitamin B12 (µg) 2.1; Lactose (g) Tr
   CoFID 2021, Public Health England / OGL v3.0 · checked 2026-09-29
2. edm-r3-03 · reference dataset
   FNDDS 14105010 Cheese, Gouda or Edam (fdc_id 2705717): 1 cracker-size slice 9 g; 1 slice 21 g; 1 cubic inch 17 g; 1 cup, diced 132 g; 1 package (7 oz) 198 g; Quantity not specified 21 g
   USDA FNDDS 2021-2023 · checked 2026-09-29
3. edm-r3-04 · RCT, crossover, acute
   We found that cheese ingestion had a slower yet more sustained branched-chain amino acid circulation appearance over the postprandial period peaking at ~120 min. ... We conclude that Cheddar cheese induced a sustained blood amino acid and moderate muscle mTORC1 response yet had a lower glycemic profile compared to milk.
   Nutrients, 2021 · checked 2026-09-29
4. edm-r3-05 · RCT, crossover, acute
   Postprandial triglycerides (TGs) (primary outcome) increased by (mean ± SEM) 0.24 ± 0.07 and 0.19 ± 0.07 mmol/L after MCI Gel compared with Cheese and Hom. Cheese, respectively (both P ≤ 0.05). ... During the first 2 h, FFAs were lower for Cheese than for MCI products, whereas the opposite was observed for glucose and insulin.
   Am J Clin Nutr, 2021 · checked 2026-09-29
5. edm-r3-06 · RCT, 6 weeks
   Melted cheese increased total cholesterol concentrations by 0.20 ± 0.15 mmol L-1 and triglyceride concentrations by 0.17 ± 0.08 mmol L-1 compared to unmelted cheese. No significant differences were observed between the cheese forms for change in HDL, LDL or VLDL cholesterol.
   Food Funct, 2024 · checked 2026-09-29
6. edm-r3-07 · meta-analysis of RCTs
   Eligible human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigated the effect of isoenergetic substitution of hard or semi-hard cheese with other dairy products on blood lipid markers. ... Pooled analyses of 7 RCTs showed a reduction in fasting total cholesterol, LDL-C and HDL-C concentrations after ≥14 d mean daily intake of 135 g cheese (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.24 mmol/L; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.34, -0.15; I2 = 59.8%, WMD: -0.19 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.27, -0.12; I2 = 42.8%, and WMD: -0.04 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.08, -0.00; I2 = 58.6%, respectively) relative to ∼52 g/d butter.
   Adv Nutr, 2023 · checked 2026-09-29
7. edm-r3-08 · meta-analysis of RCTs
   Compared with butter intake, cheese intake (weighted mean difference: 145.0 g/d) reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by 6.5% (-0.22 mmol/l; 95%CI: -0.29 to -0.14) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by 3.9% (-0.05 mmol/l; 95%CI: -0.09 to -0.02) but had no effect on triglycerides.
   Nutr Rev, 2015 · checked 2026-09-29
8. edm-r3-11 · systematic review, lab studies
   Among the identified biogenic amines, tyramine and histamine were most frequently reported at high concentrations. ... Environmental factors such as salt, moisture, fat content, and packaging methods significantly influenced biogenic amine accumulation.
   J Food Prot, 2026 · checked 2026-09-29
9. edm-r3-12 · EU claims register entry
   POL-HC-6306 Dairy products (milk and cheese) Dairy foods (milk and cheese) promote dental health in children. -/- Non-authorised
   EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-6306, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-09-29
10. edm-r3-13 · EU claims register entry
    POL-HC-7009 Dairy (low fat dairy) *Dairy refers to cow’s milk, yogurt and cheese Dairy in an energy restricted diet helps weight loss. Consuming dairy foods, as part of your weight loss diet, will help weight loss. Consuming dairy foods, as part of your weight loss diet, will help weight maintenance. Non-authorised
    EU Register on nutrition and health claims, claim POL-HC-7009, snapshot 2026-09-21 · checked 2026-09-29
11. edm-r3-09 · RCT, pooled secondary analysis
    participants (n 197, 41.6 % male) received either 120g cheese (n 104) or deconstructed cheese (49g butter, 30g calcium caseinate and a calcium supplement, n 93) for 6 weeks. ... Within the female group cheese lowered total and LDL cholesterol concentrations, whereas deconstructed cheese was found to increase the same lipid markers.
    Atherosclerosis, 2025 · checked 2026-09-29
12. edm-r3-10 · RCT, crossover
    Among 13 subjects whose initial LDL-C was >4 mmol/l, the difference between butter (4.4+/-0.3 mmol/l) and cheese (3.9+/-0.3 mmol/l) was significant (P = 0.014). ... A total of 40 g dairy fat eaten daily for 4 weeks as butter, but not as cheese, raised total and LDL cholesterol significantly compared with a diet containing significantly less saturated fat.
    Eur J Clin Nutr, 2005 · checked 2026-09-29
13. edm-r3-02 · reference dataset
    Cheese, edam (FDC 173419, SR Legacy, Dairy and Egg Products): saturated fat 18.67 g, vitamin B12 1.54 µg, calcium 731 mg per 100 g; Foundation samples 0; CoFID 12-355 Cheese, Edam: saturated fat 15.8 g, vitamin B12 2.1 µg, calcium 795 mg
    USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy and CoFID 2021, Public Health England, Open Government Licence v3.0 · checked 2026-09-29