1. ¹Department of Nutrition, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
2. ²Childrens Hospital, Knoxville, TN, USA
3. ³Bell Institute for Health and Nutrition, General Mills Inc., Golden Valley, MN, USA

Correspondence: Dr MB Zemel, Department of Nutrition, The University of Tennessee, 1215 W Cumberland Ave, Room 229, Knoxville, TN 37996-1920, USA. E-mail: mzemel@utk.edu

Received 15 July 2004; Revised 29 September 2004; Accepted 30 September 2004; Published online 11 January 2005.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We have previously demonstrated an antiobesity effect of dietary Ca; this is largely mediated by Ca suppression of calcitriol levels, resulting in reduced adipocyte intracellular Ca²⁺ and, consequently, a coordinated increase in lipid utilization and decrease in lipogenesis. Notably, dairy Ca is markedly more effective than other Ca sources.

DESIGN: Obese subjects were placed on balanced deficit (-500 kcal/day) diets and randomized to control (400–500 mg Ca/day; n=16) or yogurt (1100 mg Ca/day; n=18) treatments for 12 weeks. Dietary macronutrients and fiber were held constant at the US average.

MEASUREMENTS: Body weight, body fat and fat distribution (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), blood pressure and circulating lipids were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention.

RESULTS: Fat loss was markedly increased on the yogurt diet (-4.430.47 vs -2.750.73 kg in yogurt and control groups; P<0.005) while lean tissue loss was reduced by 31% on the yogurt diet. Trunk fat loss was augmented by 81% on the yogurt vs control diet (P<0.001), and this was reflected in a markedly greater reduction in waist circumference (-3.990.48 vs -0.581.04 cm, P<0.001). Further, the fraction of fat lost from the trunk was higher on the yogurt diet vs control (P<0.005).

CONCLUSION: Isocaloric substitution of yogurt for other foods significantly augments fat loss and reduces central adiposity during energy restriction.