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High dairy protein intake may aid bone formation in overweight women

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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 published 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 researcher Stuart Phillips, PhD, of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, stated in a news 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 premenopausal overweight or obese women equally into three groups that had either high protein, high dairy intake; adequate protein and medium dairy intake; or adequate protein, low dairy intake. In addition to moderate calorie restriction, participants in all groups performed modest daily exercise, such as aerobics and resistance training.

At baseline, participants’ mean BMI ranged from 27 to 40 and mean age ranged from 19 years to 45 years. They were also habitually low dairy consumers, according to study data.

To draw their conclusions, investigators calculated bone mass density results using DXA scans and monitored vitamin D, dietary calcium and protein levels of patients. Although patients in the three groups lost the same amount of weight after 16 weeks, the findings showed that patients in the high protein, high dairy intake group had greater total fat loss, greater visceral fat loss and lean muscle gains. The adequate protein, low dairy intake group saw similar results but at a lower rate, suggesting both diets offered adequate protection against potential bone resorption and loss.

Reference:

• Josse AR, Atkinson SA, Tarnopolsky MA, et al. Diets higher in dairy foods and dietary protein support bone health during diet- and exercise-induced weight loss in overweight and obese premenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011. doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-2165.

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