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  • Letter to the Editor
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Letter to Editor

Calcium and weight loss

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 1392–1393 (2005)Cite this article

Zemel et al1 assert that dairy augmentation of a calorie-restricted diet in obese adults (n=34) results in weight and fat loss greater than an isocaloric diet. One group included foods (Yoplait Light™ yogurt) to bolster the calcium intake to 1100 mg/day while the control group ingested a diet with less calcium (400–500 mg/day). In examining the paper, a few points appear to warrant further attention. There appear to be no compliance measurements for actual calcium intake in either the Yoplait Light or control group (gelatin dessert). Thus, there is the possibility that a confounding variable (compliance) may have affected the results. Table 2 indicates that the Yoplait Light group was prescribed a diet of 1437±190 kcal/day while the Control group was asked to eat 1303±190 kcal/day. Since this study enrolled obese adults (BMI>30 kg/m2), one would expect a high noncompliance with such a low caloric instruction. Both groups had a mean BMI of about 32 kg/m2, which means a person who is 172.72 cm and weighs 95.45 kg would be asked to eat 14 kcal/kg. Eating such a hypocaloric amount should produce greater weight loss than was reported for either the Control or Yoplait Light group (−0.91 kg/week, −1.45 kg/week, respectively). These data call compliance into question. In addition, the authors did not provide compliance data regarding actual macronutrient intake vs prescribed (∼49% carbohydrates, ∼16% protein and ∼35% fat). Did they control for this variable? Furthermore, there are no data provided regarding actual calcium intake vs the study prescription, raising the question that the weight loss observed may have been due to some factor other than calcium intake. If neither of the confounding variables of macronutrient ratio and actual calcium intake were assessed, the results may need reassessment.

In an upcoming publication, Bowen et al2 found that a hypocaloric high dairy protein diet that contained 2400 mg of Ca/day caused weight loss, but the weight loss effects were not related to the Ca intake. Thus, it appears that the protein portion and the diet being hypocaloric are more important for weight loss than calcium alone.

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References

  1. Zemel MB, Richards J, Mathis S, Milstead A, Gebhardt L, Silva E . Dairy augmentation of total and central fat loss in obese subjects. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2005; 29: 391–397.

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  2. Bowen J, Noakes M, Clifteon PM . Effect of calcium and dairy foods in high protein, energy restricted diets on weight loss and metabolic parameters in overweight adults. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2005. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802895.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Director, Nutrition and Applied Clinical Research, Miami Research Associated, 6280 Sunset Drive 600, FL, Miami, 33143, USA

    D S Kalman

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  1. D S Kalman
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Kalman, D. Calcium and weight loss. Int J Obes 29, 1392–1393 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803057

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