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Effect of dairy and non-dairy calcium on fecal fat excretion in lactose digester and maldigester obese adults

International Journal of Obesity volume 34, pages 127–135 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Background:

The effect of dietary calcium (Ca) on fecal fat excretion in lactose maldigestion is not known.

Objective:

To investigate the effect of dairy and non-dairy dietary Ca on fecal fat excretion in lactose digesters and maldigesters during moderate energy restriction.

Design:

A randomized cross-over trial comparing the effect of 500 mg versus 1500 mg dairy and non-dairy Ca on fecal fat excretion in 34 healthy adults during moderate (−30%) energy restriction induced weight loss for 12 weeks. The participants were classified as lactose digester or maldigester on the basis of breath hydrogen test.

Measurements:

Anthropometric parameters and body composition, resting energy expenditure, energy and nutrient intake, fecal fat, physical activity, blood pressure, blood and urine sampling for pertinent measurements.

Results:

Fecal fat loss expressed as percent of fat intake was significantly higher with 1500 mg (high Ca) as compared with 500 mg (low Ca) Ca intake per day (mean: 3.0%; 95% CI: 2.3 to 3.7%; P<0.001) independent of Ca source and lactose digestion status.

Conclusions:

During a moderate energy restriction induced weight loss, a high-Ca diet causes an increase in fecal fat excretion independent of Ca source. Ca intake related fecal fat loss is also independent of the ability to digest lactose and it is not diminished over time (US Clinical Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00808275)

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Acknowledgements

We thank Nobuko Hongu, PhD, RD, LeMonica Adkerson, BS, Damaris Santana, BS, and Lauren Whitaker, BS, for their help with conducting the study. We acknowledge our participants for their enthusiasm and commitment to this study. We also thank staff of the Clinical Research Center at Vanderbilt University for their help with this project. This work was supported in part by NIH Vanderbilt CTSA Grant 1 UL1 RR024975, Vanderbilt Diabetes Research and Training Center Grant DK20593 and Vanderbilt Digestive Disease Research Center Grant P30DK058404.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    M S Buchowski & M Aslam

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    M S Buchowski & S Acra

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    L Choi

  4. Department of Clinical Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    C Dossett & C Dorminy

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  1. M S Buchowski
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Correspondence to M S Buchowski.

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Buchowski, M., Aslam, M., Dossett, C. et al. Effect of dairy and non-dairy calcium on fecal fat excretion in lactose digester and maldigester obese adults. Int J Obes 34, 127–135 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.212

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2009.212

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