Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that calcium
intake is inversely related to weight gain. Calcium of dairy origin
has been shown to be more effective in promoting weight loss.
However, clinical studies yielded controversial results concerning
the role of calcium intake in weight change. The aim of this study
was to ascertain whether the addition of calcium can affect the
outcome of 3-week weight management (WM) with a hypocaloric
diet characterized by a decreased calcium intake. Overweight/
obese women (n=67; BMI 32.2±4.1 kg/m2; age 49.1±12.1 years) underwent a 4-week comprehensive WM program. WM included a 7 MJ/day diet resulting in a stable weight during the first week and a 4.5 MJ/day diet with mean daily calcium intake
350 mg during the second to fourth week. Participants were
divided into three age- and BMI-matched groups who received
placebo or calcium (500 mg/day). Calcium was administered
either as carbonate or calcium of dairy origin (Lactoval). There
was no significant difference in weight loss in response to WM
between the placebo-treated and calcium-treated groups.
However, addition of calcium to the diet resulted in a lower
hunger score in the Eating Inventory as well as a decrease in
plasma resistin levels. Body composition measured by
bioimpedance demonstrated that added calcium leads to
preservation of fat-free mass. Nevertheless, a greater loss of fatfree mass in the placebo group might be partly due to a greater
loss of water.
Calcium intake and the outcome of short-term weight management
