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Relation between calcium intake and fat oxidation in adult humans

International Journal of Obesity volume 27, pages 196–203 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine if total calcium (Ca2+) intake and intake of Ca2+ from dairy sources are related to whole-body fat oxidation.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SUBJECTS: A total of 35 (21 m, 14 f) non-obese, healthy adults (mean±s.d., age: 31±6 y; weight: 71.2±12.3 kg; BMI: 23.7±2.9 kg m−2; body fat: 21.4±5.4%).

MEASUREMENTS: Daily (24 h) energy expenditure (EE) and macronutrient oxidation using whole-room indirect calorimetry; habitual Ca2+ intake estimated from analysis of 4-day food records; acute Ca2+ intake estimated from measured food intake during a 24-h stay in a room calorimeter.

RESULTS: Acute Ca2+ intake (mg· kcal−1) was positively correlated with fat oxidation over 24 h (r=0.38, P=0.03), during sleep (r=0.36, P=0.04), and during light physical activity (r=0.32, P=0.07). Acute Ca2+ intake was inversely correlated with 24-h respiratory quotient (RQ) (r=−0.36, P=0.04) and RQ during sleep (r=−0.31, P=0.07). After adjustment for fat mass, fat-free mass, energy balance, acute fat intake, and habitual fat intake, acute Ca2+ intake explained ∼10% of the variance in 24-h fat oxidation. Habitual Ca2+ intake was not significantly correlated to fat oxidation or RQ. Total Ca2+ intake and Ca2+ intake from dairy sources were similarly correlated with fat oxidation. In backwards stepwise models, total Ca2+ intake was a stronger predictor of 24 h fat oxidation than dairy Ca2+ intake.

CONCLUSION: Higher acute Ca2+ intake is associated with higher rates of whole-body fat oxidation. These effects were apparent over 24 h, during sleep and, to a lesser extent, during light physical activity. Calcium intake from dairy sources was not a more important predictor of fat oxidation than total Ca2+ intake.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by NIH Grants M01 RR00051, R01 DK42549, and DK09961-01. We wish to thank the nurses, laboratory technicians, and kitchen personnel of the Adult GCRC at UCHSC for their professional assistance, and the staff of the Clinical Nutrition Research Unit Energy Balance Core Lab who managed the whole-room indirect calorimeter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Human Nutrition, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO, USA

    E L Melanson, T A Sharp, J Schneider, W T Donahoo, G K Grunwald & J O Hill

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  1. E L Melanson
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Correspondence to E L Melanson.

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Melanson, E., Sharp, T., Schneider, J. et al. Relation between calcium intake and fat oxidation in adult humans. Int J Obes 27, 196–203 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.802202

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