Dietary calcium intake is associated with less gain in intra-abdominal adipose tissue over 1 yr

• Published in: Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) Md.), 2010-03, Vol.18 (11), p.2101-2104
• Main Authors: Bush, Nikki C., Alvarez, Jessica A., Choquette, Suzanne S., Hunter, Gary R., Oster, Robert A., Darnell, Betty E., Gower, Barbara A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1930-7381
• DOI: 10.1038/oby.2010.39

Calcium intake is reported to enhance weight loss with a preferential loss in trunk fat. Discrepant findings exist as to the effects of calcium intake on longitudinal changes in total fat mass and central fat deposition. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine associations between dietary calcium intake and 1-yr change in body composition and fat distribution, specifically intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT). 119 healthy, premenopausal women were evaluated at baseline and 1 yr later. Average dietary calcium was determined via 4-day food records. Total fat was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAAT) and IAAT by computed tomography. Over the study period, participants’ reported daily calcium and energy intakes were 610.0 ± 229.9 mg and 1623.1 ± 348.5 kcals, respectively. The mean change in weight, total fat, IAAT, and SAAT were +4.9 ± 4.4 kg, +5.3 ± 4.0 kg, +7.7 ± 19.5 cm 2 , and +49.3 ± 81.1 cm 2 , respectively. Average calcium intake was significantly, inversely associated with 1-yr change in IAAT (standardized β: −0.23, P