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2004/04/22, 03:55 PM
Q: How would you characterize the new study by Zemel et al in Obesity Research?
A: I think this is a very provocative study, which is potentially a very important finding. Of course, it would need to be reproduced and confirmed, but the science behind this study has been published in several places.
Q: The study finds that consuming 3 to 4 servings of dairy products a day as part of a reduced calorie diet increases weight loss. What is the science behind this?
A: The results support a growing body of research linking a high calcium diet with weight loss. The theory is that a high calcium diet suppresses the hormone calcitriol. This causes fat cells to make less fat and turn on their fat burning mechanism. The amount of dairy products needed to make an effect (3 to 4 servings) is within the range recommended for good health. Moreover, there may be an additional mechanism at work, in that there are several amino acids in milk that play a role in muscle preservation and may also be a factor in weight loss, but more research is needed in this area.
Q: The study indicates that simply supplementing a reduced calorie diet with calcium is not as effective as consuming dairy products. Why is this?
A: The fact is that supplementation is never as good as getting nutrients from foods because the sum of the nutrient parts in foods always adds up to more than individual supplements. I think this has been well illustrated in some cancer studies. In that case some vegetables appeared to be associated with decreased cancer risk, but when researchers conducted studies of just the nutrients themselves-I mean supplements here-there was no benefit.
So, I always recommend the whole food route. This is clearly the case with dairy products.
Q: You mention that this new study actually reinforces findings reported by other researchers. Yet isn't it true that many people think that eating dairy products can lead to weight gain, rather than helping in weight reduction?
A: The idea that cutting back on dairy products is a way to lose weight or is part of a healthy diet is totally wrong. What happened, unfortunately, is that dairy products just got caught up in the anti-fat craze that was started about 15 years ago. It is important to note that heart specialists have now backed away from that position because they recognize that consumption of dairy products in a well balanced diet is associated with less high blood pressure and less obesity.
Another problem is the mistaken belief that people don't need to consume milk once they are adults. Humans have a lifelong need for calcium, and dairy products are an excellent source. We need to get out the message that there is no science behind the milk phobia.
Q: Finally, how would you sum up the importance of this new study?
A: It is a well designed study that confirms earlier published studies. We now have growing evidence that consumption of dairy products is an essential part of both a weight-loss and weight-control diet. Moreover, it underlines the importance of consuming whole foods as sources of calcium rather than simply relying upon calcium supplements.
© 2004 National Dairy Council®
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