Potential Mechanisms of the Effects of Milk Products on Healthy Weight

Although the impact of calcium and milk products on energy metabolism and adiposity is still the topic of ongoing research, several types of studies have confirmed the theory’s biological plausibility, including animal studies, epidemiological studies and clinical trials.¹

Several physiological mechanisms have been proposed to explain how calcium and milk product intake can affect body weight.

Effect of Dietary Calcium on Intracellular Calcium Levels

Low dietary calcium intake stimulates high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 1,25- dihydroxyvitamin D, which in turn stimulates high levels of intracellular calcium. High levels of intracellular calcium in adipocytes stimulate lipogenesis and inhibit lipolysis. Support for this mechanism is derived from studies conducted in transgenic mice,² from in vitro studies with human adipocytes,^3-5 and from a randomized controlled trial in humans.⁶

Effect of Dietary Calcium on Fat Absorption from the Gastrointestinal Tract

Increased dietary calcium seems to bind more fatty acids in the colon, thereby inhibiting fat absorption. Support for this mechanism is derived from several studies conducted in animals and humans.^7-9

In a randomized crossover trial of 10 adults comparing 3 diets of varying levels of calcium and protein (mainly from lower-fat milk products), Jacobsen and colleagues demonstrated that a short-term increase in dietary calcium intake to 1,800 mg compared to 500 mg resulted in increased fecal fat and energy excretion of about 250 kJ/day.⁸

Similarly, a study published in 2008 that compared a high-calcium (2,300 mg/day) to a low-calcium (700 mg/day) diet consisting of lower-fat milk products over 7 days demonstrated that increasing the intake of calcium from lower-fat milk products by 1,600 mg/day doubled total fecal fat excretion.⁹

References

Zemel MB. Role of calcium and dairy products in energy partitioning and weight management. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79(Suppl):907S-912S.
Zemel MB. The role of dairy foods in weight management. J Am Coll Nutr 2005;24:537S-546S.
Shi H et al. 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 modulates human adipocyte metabolism via nongenomic action. FASEB J 2001;15:2751-2753.
Shi H et al. 1a, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits uncoupling protein 2 expression in human adipocytes. FASEB J 2002 doi: 10.1096/fj.02-0255fje.
Zemel MB, Sun X. Dietary calcium and dairy products modulateoxidative and inflammatory stress in mice and humans. J Nutr 2008;138:1047-1052.
Teegarden D et al. Calcium and dairy product modulation of lipid utilization and energy expenditure. Obesity 2008;16(7):1566-72. doi: 10.1038/oby.2008.232.
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.
Jacobsen R et al. Effect of short-term high dietary calcium intake on 24-h energy expenditure, fat oxidation, and fecal fat excretion. Int J Obes 2005;29:292-301.
Bendsen NT et al. Effect of dairy calcium on fecal fat excretion: a randomized crossover trial. Int J Obes 2008;32(12):1816-1824. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2008.173.

Keywords: healthy weight, health studies

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Weigh in on the evidence surrounding the role of calcium and milk products in weight management.

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