Supplementation with calcium + vitamin D enhances the beneficial effect of weight loss on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations.
BACKGROUND
Adequate calcium intake can have a favorable effect on some metabolic variables.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to determine the effects of daily calcium intake and of supplementation with calcium and vitamin D (calcium+D) during a weight-loss intervention on blood pressures, plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, and glucose and insulin concentrations in low calcium consumers.


METHODS
Healthy, overweight or obese women (n = 63) with a daily calcium intake of < 800 mg/d were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to 1 of 2 groups: the group consuming 2 tablets/d of a calcium + vitamin D supplement (600 mg elemental calcium and 200 IU vitamin D/tablet) or the group consuming placebo; both groups observed a 700 kcal/d energy restriction. These 63 women then completed a 15-wk weight-loss intervention.


RESULTS
Initial daily calcium intake was significantly correlated with plasma HDL cholesterol (r = 0.41, P < 0.001) and with 2-h postload glycemia (r = -0.29, P < 0.05) during an oral-glucose-tolerance test, independent of fat mass and waist circumference. After the 15-wk intervention, significantly greater decreases in total:LDL and LDL:HDL (P < 0.01 for both) and of LDL cholesterol (P < 0.05) were observed in the calcium+D group than in the placebo group. The differences in total:HDL and LDL:HDL were independent of changes in fat mass and in waist circumference. A tendency for more beneficial changes in HDL cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and total cholesterol was also observed in the calcium+D group (P = 0.08).


CONCLUSIONS
Consumption of calcium+D during a weight-loss intervention enhanced the beneficial effect of body weight loss on the lipid and lipoprotein profile in overweight or obese women with usual low daily calcium intake.
Major
Geneviève C
GC
Division of Kinesiology, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Ste-Foy, Canada.
Alarie
Francine
F
Doré
Jean
J
Phouttama
Sakouna
S
Tremblay
Angelo
A
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014807:Vitamin D