Effects Of Calcium On Weight Maintenance Among Middle-Aged Adults

July 3, 2006

Increased total calcium intake in the form of supplements can help

middle-aged adults maintain their weight over a number of years, with

particular benefits to women, according to researchers at the Fred

Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

The study looked at relationships between calcium and weight change

over an eight-to-12-year period among more than 10,000 men and women

in their mid-50s. Previous studies have found connections between

calcium intake and people's body mass index, but those studies

focused on calcium in food, not supplements, according to the

researchers.

The study examined people's intakes of dietary calcium, supplemental

calcium and total calcium (supplements plus diet) to discover which

forms of calcium were associated with weight change. The researchers

found " dietary calcium alone had no significant effect on 10-year

weight change, " but that women who took calcium supplements saw some

improvement.

" Although more evidence from randomized clinical trials is needed

before calcium supplements can be recommended specifically for weight

loss, this study suggests that calcium supplements taken for other

reasons (e.g., prevention of osteoporosis) may have a small

beneficial influence on reducing weight gain, particularly among

women approaching midlife. "

###

Highlights from the July 2006 Journal of the American Dietetic

Association

Recommended Posts