Milk Products and Weight : The Importance of the Threshold Effect
Although the evidence is still in its infancy, it is believed that there is a threshold level of calcium intake, above which there may be no further benefits with respect to weight management.
While there is insufficient data up to now to precisely calculate this threshold, it has been suggested that it may be around 800 mg per day with a range of 600 to 1,200 mg per day.1 Regardless of the exact number, it is suggested that calcium plus vitamin D or milk product intake could enhance fat-mass loss better than a control condition in overweight or obese individuals with habitual calcium intakes well below recommended levels for their age group. The lack of association between milk products and weight control in some studies may be partially attributed to this threshold effect.1
References
- Major GC et al. Recent developments in calcium-related obesity research. Obes Rev 2008;9(5):428-445 doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789x.2007.0045.x.
Keywords: healthy weight, health studies
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