No relation between intakes of calcium and dairy products and body mass index in Japanese women aged 18 to 20 y

An eight-week randomized intervention study on Korean adults to evaluate the effect of milk intake on obesity

The anti-obesity effect of milk intake has been suggested via a variety of designed studies, but findings of obesity interventions for Korean adults are scarcely reported. The study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effect of cow milk in Korean adults with an 8-wk randomized intervention. A total of 121 adults overweight aged 19 to 60 yr old were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 groups: milk or control. During the intervention, both groups were encouraged 500 kcal of restriction a day, and the milk group consumed 200 mL of milk twice a day; the same energy intake as the control group, including milk intake, was recommended for 8 wk. We detected no significant differences in body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) between the milk and control groups during the 8-wk intervention, although the changes in BW and BMI of those within the milk group were significant. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and serum calcium levels increased significantly in the milk group compared with the control group. Calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and riboflavin intakes increased significantly, when compared with the control. In conclusion, 8-wk milk consumption had no effect on weight loss and BMI change but improved some blood biomarkers and nutrient intake in Korean adults who were overweight. To evaluate the effect of milk on obesity reduction, well-designed, long-term, and large-scale studies are needed.

Association of Dietary Calcium Intake With Bone Health and Chronic Diseases: Two Prospective Cohort Studies in China

Background: Calcium is an essential element in our diet and the most abundant mineral in the body. A high proportion of Chinese residents are not meeting dietary calcium recommendations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between calcium intake and the health of residents in two longitudinal studies of Chinese residents.

Methods: This study used nationally representative data from the Harbin Cohort Study on Diet, Nutrition, and Chronic Non-communicable Disease Study (HDNNCDS) and China Health Nutrition Survey (CHNS), including 6,499 and 8,140 Chinese adults, respectively, who were free of chronic diseases at recruitment, with mean values of 4.2- and 5.3-year follow-up. Cox's proportional-hazards regression was conducted to explore the relationship between dietary calcium intake and the incidence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) with adjustment for covariates.

Results: Calcium intakes were 451.35 ± 203.56 and 484.32 ± 198.61 (mean ± SD) mg/day in HDNNCDS and CHNS. After adjusting the covariates, the relationship between dietary calcium intake and bone mineral density (BMD) was not statistically significant (p = 0.110). In the multivariate-adjusted Cox's proportional-hazards regression model, dietary calcium intakes were inversely associated with obesity incidence in both cohorts (HR [95% CI]: 0.61 [0.48–0.77] and p trend < 0.001 in fixed-effects model); nevertheless, there was no correlation between dietary calcium intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes (p trend = 0.442 and 0.759) and CVD (p trend = 0.826 and 0.072). The relationship between dietary calcium intake and the risk of hypertension in the two cohorts was inconsistent (p trend = 0.012 and 0.559). Additionally, after further adjusting the vegetable intake in the original multivariate model, both cohorts found no association between dietary calcium intake and the risk of developing obesity (p trend = 0.084 and 0.444).

Conclusions: Our data suggest that the current calcium intake of Chinese residents was inversely associated with obesity, which may be related to consumption of vegetables. Meanwhile, the current calcium intake does not increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, CVD, and bone health burden. This research suggested that the Chinese current calcium intake level may have met the needs of the body.

Calcium intake is inversely associated with body fat in postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Calcium intake seems to be inversely associated with body fat in several populations; however, little is known about this relationship in postmenopausal women. This study aimed to associate calcium intake with body fat mass in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed with 107 postmenopausal women who entered in a lifestyle change program. The dietary intake was estimated through three 24-h food recalls. Body fat mass was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Linear regression analyzes were performed associating body fat variables (total fat mass, body fat percentage, trunk fat, gynoid and android fat mass; and body mass index) with calcium intake.

RESULTS

After adjustments for age; carbohydrate, protein, lipids and fiber intakes; and physical activity, it was observed that calcium intake (mg/day) was inversely associated with total fat mass (kg and percentage), trunk fat mass (kg), gynoid and android fat mass (kg). Calcium intake was not associated with body mass index, although a tendency was observed (p = 0.062).

CONCLUSION

Calcium intake was inversely associated with body fat mass in postmenopausal women.

Dairy shows different associations with abdominal and BMI-defined overweight: Cross-sectional analyses exploring a variety of dairy products

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Previous studies have suggested weight-regulatory properties for several dairy nutrients, but population-based studies on dairy and body weight are inconclusive. We explored cross-sectional associations between dairy consumption and indicators of overweight.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 114,682 Dutch adults, aged ≥18 years. Dairy consumption was quantified by a food frequency questionnaire. Abdominal overweight was defined as waist circumference (WC) ≥88 cm (women) or ≥102 cm (men) (n = 37,391), overweight as BMI ≥25-30 kg/m² (n = 44,772) and obesity as BMI ≥30 kg/m² (n = 15,339). Associations were quantified by logistic (abdominal overweight, no/yes), multinomial logistic (BMI-defined overweight and obesity) and linear regression analyses (continuous measures of WC and BMI), and they were adjusted for relevant covariates. Total dairy showed a positive association with abdominal overweight (OR Q1 ref vs. Q5: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04-1.14) and with BMI-defined overweight (OR Q5 1.13; 95% CI: 1.08-1.18) and obesity (OR Q5 1.09; 95% CI: 1.02-1.16). Skimmed, semi-skimmed and non-fermented dairy also showed positive associations with overweight categories. Full-fat dairy showed an inverse association with overweight and obesity (OR Q5 for obesity: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.73-0.83). Moreover, inverse associations were observed for yoghurt and custard and positive associations for milk, buttermilk, flavoured yoghurt drinks, cheese and cheese snacks. Fermented dairy, curd cheese and Dutch cheese did not show a consistent association with overweight categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Total, skimmed, semi-skimmed and non-fermented dairy; milk; buttermilk; flavoured yoghurt drinks; total cheese and cheese snacks showed a positive association with overweight categories, whereas full-fat dairy, custard and yoghurt showed an inverse association with overweight categories.

Calcium intake and the associations with faecal fat and energy excretion, and lipid profile in a free-living population

The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between the habitual Ca intake and faecal fat and energy excretion as well as blood lipid profile in free-living normal-weight and overweight individuals. The participants were enrolled for an 8-d period where data from a 7-d diet registration (days 1–7), a 5-d faeces collection (days 3–7), a 2-d urine collection (days 5–7), and anthropometric measurements and a fasting blood sample (day 8) were collected. Analyses showed that dietary Ca intake (g/10 MJ per d) was positively associated with excretion of faecal fat (P = 0·004) and energy (P = 0·031) when adjusted for BMI, age, sex and intake of Ca-containing supplements. However, after adjustment for intake of fibre, the effect of Ca intake disappeared. Nevertheless, total cholesterol (CHOL) and LDL-CHOL concentrations were associated negatively with Ca intake (β −0·62 (95 % CI −0·96, −0·28) mmol/l, P < 0·001, and β −0·49 (95 % CI −0·78, −0·20) mmol/l, P = 0·001, respectively, per 1000 mg/10 MJ per d increase in Ca intake). In conclusion, incorporation of Ca-rich food products in a habitual diet was associated with reduced total CHOL and LDL-CHOL concentrations, which may lower the risk of CVD in the long term.

Intakes of dairy products and calcium and obesity in Korean adults: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) 2007-2009

Background

The possible effects of dairy product intake against obesity have been suggested in animal studies; however, the association is still not well established in epidemiological studies. Few studies in Asian countries with relatively low intake of dairy products exist.

Objective

We investigated the association between dairy products and calcium intake and obesity in Korean population with relatively low intake of dairy products.

Subjects and Methods

Our study population consisted of adults (n = 7173) aged 19–64 among participants of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who had not made any attempt of intentional weight loss. Dietary intake data from food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 24-hour recall were used. Dairy products included milk and yogurt in the FFQ. Obesity was defined as BMI≥25 kg/m².

Results

Higher frequency of dairy product intake was associated with a reduced prevalence of obesity (OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.45–0.89 for ≥2 times/day vs. ≤1 time/month; p for trend = 0.003) using the intake data from FFQ. Similarly, high frequency of milk or yogurt intake had an inverse association with obesity. The association between milk and yogurt intake and obesity was similar when the intake from 24-hour recall was examined. Higher calcium intake from dairy products as well as total dietary calcium intake was associated with a decreased prevalence of obesity (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.71–0.98 for highest vs. lowest quintile of dairy calcium intake; p for trend = 0.02, OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.64–0.94 for highest vs. lowest quintile of total calcium intake; p for trend = 0.04). The associations appeared to be stronger in women than in men.

Conclusion

These results suggest that high consumption of dairy products is associated with a lower prevalence of obesity and that calcium in dairy products may be one of the components contributing to the association. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to replicate our findings.

Associations of the lactase persistence allele and lactose intake with body composition among multiethnic children

Childhood obesity is a worldwide health concern with a multifaceted and sometimes confounding etiology. Dairy products have been implicated as both pro- and anti-obesogenic, perhaps due to the confounding relationship between dairy, lactose consumption, and potential genetic predisposition. We aimed to understand how lactase persistence influenced obesity-related traits by observing the relationships among lactose consumption, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) near the lactase (LCT) gene and body composition parameters in a sample of multiethnic children (n = 296, 7-12 years old). We hypothesized that individuals with the lactase persistence (LP) allele of the LCT SNP (rs4988235) would exhibit a greater degree of adiposity and that this relationship would be mediated by lactose consumption. Body composition variables were measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry and a registered dietitian assessed dietary intake of lactose. Statistical models were adjusted for sex, age, pubertal stage, ethnic group, genetic admixture, socio-economic status, and total energy intake. Our findings indicate a positive, significant association between the LP allele and body mass index (p = 0.034), fat mass index (FMI) (p = 0.043), and waist circumference (p = 0.008), with associations being stronger in males than in females. Our results also reveal that lactose consumption is positively and nearly significantly associated with FMI.

Dietary calcium intake is associated with adiposity, metabolic profile, inflammatory state and blood pressure, but not with erythrocyte intracellular calcium and endothelial function in healthy pre-menopausal women

Recent studies have suggested that dietary Ca may have beneficial effects on adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and blood pressure (BP). One potential mechanism underlying these benefits involves modifications in intracellular Ca concentration ([Ca2+]i). The present study aimed to evaluate the associations of dietary Ca with adiposity, erythrocyte [Ca2+]i, metabolic profile, BP, inflammatory state and endothelial function in healthy pre-menopausal women. In the present cross-sectional study, seventy-six women aged 18–50 years were submitted to the evaluation of dietary intake, anthropometric parameters, body composition, erythrocyte [Ca2+]i, biochemical variables, endothelial function and BP. A FFQ was used to assess usual dietary intake. Endothelial function was evaluated by serum concentrations of adhesion molecules and by the peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) method, using Endo-PAT 2000®. Participants were allocated into two groups according to Ca intake: low-Ca group (LCG; n 32; < 600 mg/d) and high-Ca group (HCG; n 44; ≥ 600 mg/d). Women in the LCG compared with those in the HCG exhibited, after adjustments for potential confounders, higher values of BMI, waist circumference, waist:height ratio, percentage of body fat, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, leptin, diastolic and mean BP; and lower levels of HDL-cholesterol, adiponectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1. Endothelial function assessed by PAT and [Ca2+]i was similar in both groups. Subjects in the HCG had lower OR for prevalent overweight, obesity, abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, HDL-cholesterol < 600 mg/l and systolic BP >120 mmHg. The findings of the present study suggest that high Ca intake is inversely associated with some cardiovascular risk factors.

Effect of calcium intake on fat oxidation in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials

Calcium intake is likely to increase body fat loss during energy restriction. Part of this effect may be explained by increased fat oxidation in the presence of a similar energy balance, yet studies have not provided a conclusive answer. Therefore a meta-analysis was performed to determine whether chronic or acute high calcium intake increases fat oxidation. Randomized controlled trials of high calcium intake in human adults where measures of fat oxidation were taken were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed on outcomes expressed as standardized mean differences. Chronic high calcium intake increased fat oxidation by a standardized mean difference of 0.42 (95% confidence intervals: 0.14, 0.69; P= 0.003; estimated to correspond to an 11% increase), displaying low heterogeneity (I(2) = 18%), which was more prominent when habitual calcium intake was low (<700 mg d(-1) ). Acute high calcium intake increased fat oxidation by a standardized mean difference of 0.41 (0.04, 0.77; P = 0.03), with low heterogeneity (I(2) = 19%), yet sensitivity analysis revealed that this effect was relatively weak. In conclusion, chronic high calcium intake is likely to increase rates of fat oxidation. The effects of acute high calcium intake appear to point in the same direction, but further work is needed to permit a greater degree of certainty.

Associations between dairy consumption and body weight: a review of the evidence and underlying mechanisms

As the incidence of obesity is reaching 'epidemic' proportions, there is currently widespread interest in the impact of dietary components on body-weight and food intake regulation. The majority of data available from both epidemiological and intervention studies provide evidence of a negative but modest association between milk and dairy product consumption and BMI and other measures of adiposity, with indications that higher intakes result in increased weight loss and lean tissue maintenance during energy restriction. The purported physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of dairy constituents on adiposity are incompletely understood but may include effects on lipolysis, lipogeneis and fatty acid absorption. Furthermore, accumulating evidence indicates an impact of dairy constituents, in particular whey protein derivatives, on appetite regulation and food intake. The present review summarises available data and provides an insight into the likely contribution of dairy foods to strategies aimed at appetite regulation, weight loss or the prevention of weight gain.

Dairy calcium intake, serum vitamin D, and successful weight loss

BACKGROUND

The role of dairy calcium intake and serum vitamin D concentrations in weight loss is controversial.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to assess the association of dairy calcium intake and serum vitamin D with weight loss.

DESIGN

We analyzed data from participants in the 2-y Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial (DIRECT) [n = 322; mean body mass index (BMI; in kg/m²): 31; mean age: 52 y]. A representative sample (n = 126) was followed for 6 mo for serum vitamin D changes.

RESULTS

Baseline serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations decreased significantly across the tertiles of baseline BMI (25.6 ± 8.0, 24.1 ± 8.9, and 22.9 ± 6.8 ng/mL, respectively; P for trend = 0.02). Baseline concentrations of vitamin D and dairy calcium intake were not associated with subsequent weight loss. However, in repeated-measures models adjusted for age, sex, baseline BMI, total fat intake, and diet group assignment, higher 6-mo tertile levels of dairy calcium intake (median for tertiles: 156.5, 358.0, and 582.9 mg/d, respectively) and serum 25(OH)D (14.5, 21.2, and 30.2 ng/mL, respectively) were associated with increased weight loss across the 2-y intervention (-3.3, -3.5, and -5.3 kg, respectively, for dairy calcium; P = 0.043; -3.1, -3.8, and -5.6 kg, respectively, for vitamin D; P = 0.013). In a multivariate logistic regression adjusted simultaneously for age, sex, baseline BMI, total fat intake, diet group, vitamin D concentration, and dairy calcium, an increase of 1 SD in dairy calcium intake increased the likelihood of weight loss of >4.5 kg in the preceding 6 mo [odds ratio (OR): 1.45; P = 0.046]. A similar increase was seen for serum 25(OH)D at the 6-mo point (OR: 1.7; P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that both higher dairy calcium intake and increased serum vitamin D are related to greater diet-induced weight loss. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00160108.

Effect of a high-calcium energy-reduced diet on abdominal obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in obese Brazilian subjects

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials designed to examine the effects of calcium supplementation on abdominal obesity have had ambiguous results.

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate, during energy restriction, the effects of a high-calcium diet (HCD) on measures of abdominal obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in Brazilian obese subjects of multiethnic origin.

METHODS

We conducted a randomised clinical trial. Fifty obese subjects of both sexes, aged 22-55 years, with stable body weight and a low calcium intake were randomised into the following outpatient dietary regimens: (i) a low-calcium diet (LCD; < 500 mg/day) or (ii) a HCD [1200-1300 mg/day, supplemented with non-fat powdered milk (60 g/day)]. Both groups followed an energy-restricted diet (-800 kcal/day) throughout the study (16 weeks).

RESULTS

Thirty-nine participants completed the study. After 16 weeks of energy restriction, a significant reduction was observed in all anthropometric parameters, metabolic variables (except for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and blood pressure levels in both the groups. Insulin was significantly reduced only in the HCD group. Subjects on the HCD compared with those on the LCD exhibited a greater reduction in waist circumference (p = 0.002), waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.04) and mean blood pressure (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that increased calcium intake may enhance the beneficial effects of energy restriction on abdominal obesity and blood pressure.

Body fat and dairy product intake in lactase persistent and non-persistent children and adolescents

Background

Lactase non-persistent (LNP) individuals may be lactose intolerant and therefore on a more restricted diet concerning milk and milk products compared to lactase persistent (LP) individuals. This may have an impact on body fat mass.

Objective

This study examines if LP and LNP children and adolescents, defined by genotyping for the LCT-13910 C > T polymorphism, differ from each other with regard to milk and milk product intake, and measures of body fat mass.

Design

Children (n=298, mean age 9.6 years) and adolescents (n=386, mean age 15.6 years), belonging to the Swedish part of the European Youth Heart Study, were genotyped for the LCT-13910 C > T polymorphism. Dietary intakes of reduced and full-fat dairy varieties were determined.

Results

LNP (CC genotype) subjects consumed less milk, soured milk and yoghurt compared to LP (CT/TT genotype) subjects (p<0.001). Subsequent partitioning for age group attenuated this observation (p=0.002 for children and p=0.023 in adolescents). Six subjects were reported by parents to be ‘lactose intolerant’, none of whom were LNP. LNP children and adolescents consumed significantly less reduced fat milk and milk products than LP children and adolescents (p=0.009 for children and p=0.001 for adolescents).

Conclusions

We conclude that LP is linked to an overall higher milk and dairy intake, but is not linked to higher body fat mass in children and adolescents.

Low-fat dairy intake and body weight and composition changes in college students

Dairy calcium may help prevent excess weight gain and obesity when consumed in adequate amounts (three or more servings per day) and combined with energy balance. This prospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate dairy intake and examine the association between low-fat dairy intake and body weight and composition changes in college students. Seventy-six college students (65 women and 11 men; mean age+/-standard error [SE]=19.2+/-0.2 years) completed 7-day food records, body height (cm), weight (kg), and waist circumference (cm) measurements twice (September 2004 and April 2005). Percentage of truncal fat and percentage of total body fat were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. One-way multivariate analysis of covariance was conducted. Overall (mean+/-SE) total dairy (1.4+/-0.1 servings/day), low-fat dairy (0.5+/-0.1 servings/day), and calcium (815+/-41 mg/day) intakes were low. Subjects who consumed a higher amount of low-fat dairy products (mean+/-SE=0.8+/-0.1 servings/day) had better diet quality, gained less body weight, and had reductions in waist circumference, percentage truncal fat, and percentage total body fat compared to those with lower intake (mean+/-SE=0.1+/-0.0 servings/day). Low-fat dairy intake may be associated with better diet quality and weight management in college students. Nutrition interventions in young adults should promote low-fat dairy intake as part of an overall healthful lifestyle.

Preponderance of the evidence: an example from the issue of calcium intake and body composition

Meta-analysis is typically applied to studies developed in fairly mature fields, but may be ill-suited for younger fields in which most of the evidence comes from studies that were designed for other endpoints entirely and that are often significantly underpowered for the effect in question. Here, there are no generally accepted methods for getting a grasp on the preponderance of the evidence. In this review, one way of doing so is proposed and the recently emergent literature concerning calcium intake and body composition is used as an illustration of how such an approach might be used.

Does dairy calcium intake enhance weight loss among overweight diabetic patients?

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of dairy calcium consumption on weight loss and improvement in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes indicators among overweight diabetic patients.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was an ancillary study of a 6-month randomized clinical trial assessing the effect of three isocaloric diets in type 2 diabetic patients: 1) mixed glycemic index carbohydrate diet, 2) low-glycemic index diet, and 3) modified Mediterranean diet. Low-fat dairy product consumption varied within and across the groups by personal choice. Dietary intake, weight, CVD risk factors, and diabetes indexes were measured at baseline and at 6 months.

RESULTS

A total of 259 diabetic patients were recruited with an average BMI >31 kg/m2 and mean age of 55 years. No difference was found at baseline between the intervention groups in CVD risk factors, diabetes indicators, macronutrient intake, and nutrient intake from dairy products. Dairy calcium intake was associated with percentage of weight loss. Among the high tertile of dairy calcium intake, the odds ratio for weight loss of >8% was 2.4, P = 0.04, compared with the first tertile, after controlling for nondairy calcium intake, diet type, and the change in energy intake from baseline. No association was noted between dairy calcium and other health indexes except for triglyceride levels.

CONCLUSIONS

A diet rich in dairy calcium intake enhances weight reduction in type 2 diabetic patients. Such a diet could be tried in diabetic patients, especially those with difficulty adhering to other weight reduction diets.