Effect of increasing dietary calcium through supplements and dairy food on body weight and body composition: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Abstract

This meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials assessed the effect of Ca on body weight and body composition through supplementation or increasing dairy food intake. Forty-one studies met the inclusion criteria (including fifty-one trial arms; thirty-one with dairy foods (n 2091), twenty with Ca supplements (n 2711). Ca intake was approximately 900 mg/d higher in the supplement groups compared with control. In the dairy group, Ca intake was approximately 1300 mg/d. Ca supplementation did not significantly affect body weight (mean change (20·17, 95 % CI 2 0·70, 0·37) kg) or body fat (mean change (2 0·19, 95 % CI 20·51, 0·13) kg) compared to control. Similarly, increased dairy food intake did not affect body weight (20·06, 95 % CI 20·54, 0·43) kg or body fat change (2 0·36, 95 % CI 2 0·80, 0·09) kg compared to control. Sub-analyses revealed that dairy supplementation resulted in no change in body weight (nineteen studies, n 1010) (2 0·32, 95 % CI 20·93, 0·30 kg, P¼ 0·31), but a greater reduction in body fat (thirteen studies, n 564) (2 0·96, 95 % CI 21·46, 20·46 kg, P , 0·001) in the presence of energy restriction over a mean of 4 months compared to control. Increasing dietary Ca intake by 900 mg/d as supplements or increasing dairy intake to approximately 3 servings daily (approximately 1300 mg of Ca/d) is not an effective weight reduction strategy in adults. There is, however, an indication that approximately 3 servings of dairy may facilitate fat loss on weight reduction diets in the short term.

Dairy Consumption and Body Mass Index Among Adults: Mendelian Randomization Analysis of 184802 Individuals from 25 Studies

“…Thus, the potential benefits of dairy on body weight could be interpreted as the effect of the substitution of dairy products for certain other foods (5). Therefore, total energy intake needs to be considered when assessing the role of dairy intake in weight control (3–6). In addition, metaanalysis of RCTs showed that dairy consumption increased lean (muscle) mass and decreased body fat (3).…”

“…In addition, metaanalysis of RCTs showed that dairy consumption increased lean (muscle) mass and decreased body fat (3). Increased protein intake from dairy products may promote maintenance of lean mass (6). Thus, in the present study, it is possible that the higher BMI related to high dairy intake could be mainly because of increased lean muscle mass.…”

“…A recent systematic review of prospective cohort studies showed a negative association of dairy consumption with risk of overweight and obesity, but considerable heterogeneities existed (2), making definitive conclusions difficult. Metaanalyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) 74 suggest that dairy consumption may not influence body weight when all the participants are analyzed, but it may reduce body weight and fat mass in the context of energy restriction (3–6). However, because of the relatively short duration of intervention (often <1 years) and the special populations often evaluated (e.g., obese individuals seeking weight loss), the effects of habitual dairy intake on body weight in general populations remain unclear.…”

Milk and dairy products: good or bad for human health? An assessment of the totality of scientific evidence

“…Furthermore, dairy protein is a good source of essential amino acids for muscle protein synthesis and thus helps to maintain the metabolically active muscle mass during weight loss (8). Meta-analyses support that in adults, dairy products facilitate weight loss and improve body composition, that is, reduce body fat mass and preserve lean body mass during energy restriction and in short-term studies (9–11). The effect of an increased dairy consumption on body weight in long-term studies (>1 year) and in energy balance studies is less convincing (10, 11).…”

“…Meta-analyses support that in adults, dairy products facilitate weight loss and improve body composition, that is, reduce body fat mass and preserve lean body mass during energy restriction and in short-term studies (9–11). The effect of an increased dairy consumption on body weight in long-term studies (>1 year) and in energy balance studies is less convincing (10, 11). This is likely due to the opposing effects of dairy on body composition, that is, reduction of fat mass and preservation of lean body mass.…”