Role of Calcium and Low-Fat Dairy Foods in Weight-Loss Outcomes Revisited: Results from the Randomized Trial of Effects on Bone and Body Composition in Overweight/Obese Postmenopausal Women.

Jasminka Z Ilich,Youjin Kim,Irena Colic-Baric,Yichih Chi,Hyehyung Shin,Kandauda K A S Wickrama,Pei-Yang Liu,Owen J Kelly

doi:10.3390/nu11051157

Abstract

Several studies have investigated the possibility of dairy foods and calcium (Ca) mediating weight and body composition, but a consensus has not been reached. We aimed to investigate weight-loss-related outcomes during intervention with low-fat dairy foods or Ca + vitamin D supplements, both as complements to hypocaloric diets. Overweight/obese Caucasian, early-postmenopausal women (n = 135) were recruited for a 6 month energy-restricted weight loss study complemented with either low-fat dairy foods (D; 4–5 servings/day), or Ca + vitamin D supplements (S); both to amount a total of ~1500 mg/day and 600 IU/day of Ca and vitamin D, respectively, or placebo pills (C). Bone mineral density (BMD) and lean and fat tissue were measured by Lunar iDXA. Serum and urinary markers of bone turnover were analyzed. Diet and physical activity were assessed with 3-day records. Participants on average lost ~4%, ~3%, and ~2% of body weight, fat, and lean tissue, respectively. The significantly better outcomes were noticed in participants in the D group regarding body composition (fat loss/lean tissue preservation) and in participants in the S group regarding the BMD outcomes, compared to those in the C group. Therefore, increasing low-fat dairy foods to 4–5 servings/day and/or increasing Ca & vitamin D intake by supplements (in those who are at the borderline dietary intake) may be beneficial for weight loss/maintenance and may lead to more favorable bone and body composition outcomes in postmenopausal women during moderate weight loss.

Highlights

At high risk of becoming overweight are women in the early postmenopausal years, due to a combination of factors, including cessation of estrogen, decreased activity, and decreasedNutrients 2019, 11, 1157; doi:10.3390/nu11051157 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrientsNutrients 2019, 11, 1157 resting metabolic rate [1,2]
Our data show that participants in both Ca + vitamin D supplements (S) group and low-fat dairy (D) group presented with better bone and body composition outcomes compared with participants in control (C) group after 6 months of moderate weight loss intervention
Our results show that hypocaloric diets with increased Ca + vitamin D intake and/or low-fat dairy foods during the 6-month intervention resulted in better weight and fat tissue loss, as well as in preservation of bone and lean tissue, compared to the hypocaloric diets only

Summary

Introduction

At high risk of becoming overweight are women in the early postmenopausal years, due to a combination of factors, including cessation of estrogen, decreased activity, and decreasedNutrients 2019, 11, 1157; doi:10.3390/nu11051157 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrientsNutrients 2019, 11, 1157 resting metabolic rate [1,2]. At high risk of becoming overweight are women in the early postmenopausal years, due to a combination of factors, including cessation of estrogen, decreased activity, and decreased. Overweight/obese individuals often attempt to lose weight either on their own or as part of some organized programs to alleviate hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or osteoarthritis. Decreased bone and muscle mass with weight loss may increase the risks for osteosarcopenia and subsequent fractures [8,14]. There is an obvious unfavorable effect on both bone and muscle with mechanical unloading during and after weight loss, as well as with the reduced protein and calcium intake (and reduced absorption of the latter) with the restricted energy consumption [15].

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