Overweight and obese premenopausal women who increased dairy food and
protein intake during weight loss regimens developed improved markers for bone
formation and decreased markers for bone degradation, according to a study set
for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &
Metabolism.
“Our findings show that a diet with a high proportion of dairy
foods and higher than recommended protein intake was associated with improved
markers for bone health,” study author Stuart Phillips, PhD, of McMaster
University in Hamilton, Ontario, stated in a press release from The Endocrine
Society. “Thus, to avoid deleterious consequences to their bone health,
women who are attempting weight loss through dieting should practice
consumption of more protein from dairy sources.”
Phillips and colleagues divided 90 study participants —
premenopausal overweight or obese women — equally into three groups that
had either high protein, high dairy intake (HPHD), adequate protein and medium
dairy intake (APMD) or adequate protein, low dairy intake (APLD). In addition
to moderate calorie restriction, trial participants in all groups performed
modest daily exercise, such as aerobics and resistance training, according to
the release.
At baseline, participants’ mean body mass index ranged from 27 to
40 kg/m2 and mean age ranged from 19 to 45 years and they were
habitually low dairy consumers, according to study data.
To draw their conclusions, investigators calculated bone mass density
results using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans and monitored vitamin D,
dietary calcium and protein levels of patients in all three groups.
Although patients in the three groups lost the same amount of weight
after 16 weeks, the findings showed the HPHD group had greater total fat loss,
greater visceral fat loss and lean muscle gains. The APMD group saw similar
results but at a lower rate, suggesting both diets offered adequate protection
against potential bone resorption and loss.
The researchers concluded high protein intake with a focus on dairy
foods during diet and exercise periods can help overweight and obese
women’s markers for bone turnover, calcium, vitamin D status, and bone
metabolism, according to the release.
“Our data provide a good rationale to recommend consumption of
dairy foods to aid in high quality weight loss, which we define as loss of fat
as opposed to muscle, and the promotion of bone health in young women who are
at the age when achieving and maintaining peak bone mass is of great
importance,” Phillips stated in the release.
Reference:
- Josse AR, Atkinson SA, Tarnopolsky MA, Phillips SM. Diets higher in
dairy foods and dietary protein support bone health during diet- and
exercise-induced weight loss in overweight and obese premenopausal women
[published online ahead of print November 2, 2011]. J Clin Endocrin
Metab. doi:10.1210/jc.2011-2165.
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