Effect of prebiotic supplementation and calcium intake on body mass index.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of a prebiotic supplement and usual calcium intake on body composition changes during pubertal growth.


METHODS
We measured anthropometry and body fat with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 97 young adolescents who were randomized to receive either a daily prebiotic supplement or maltodextrin (control) for 1 year.


RESULTS
Subjects who received the prebiotic supplement had a smaller increase in body mass index (BMI) compared with the control group (BMI difference 0.52 +/- 0.16 kg/m2, P = .016), BMI Z-score (difference 0.13 +/- 0.06, P = .048) and total fat mass (difference 0.84 +/- 0.36 kg, P = .022). The prebiotic group maintained their baseline BMI Z-score (0.03 +/- 0.01, paired t test, P = .30), although BMI Z-score increased significantly in the control group (0.13 +/- 0.03, P < .001). In considering subjects whose usual calcium intake was > or = 700 mg/d, those who received the prebiotic supplement had a relative change in BMI that was 0.82 kg/m2 less than control subjects (P < .01), and BMI Z-score that was 0.20 less than control subjects (P = .003). Differences tended to be maintained 1 year after supplementation was stopped.


CONCLUSIONS
Prebiotic supplementation and avoidance of a low calcium intake can have significant effects in modulating BMI and other body composition changes during puberty.
Abrams
Steven A
SA
USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, and Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. sabrams@bcm.edu
Griffin
Ian J
IJ
Hawthorne
Keli M
KM
Ellis
Kenneth J
KJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007444:Inulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology
D009844:Oligosaccharides; C120489:oligofructose; D007444:Inulin; D002118:Calcium