ARS | Publication request: Association of Calcium Intake, Dairy Product Consumption with Overweight Status in Young Adults (1995-1996): The Bogalusa Heart Study

Submitted to: Journal of the American College of Nutrition
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: October 1, 2006
Publication Date: December 1, 2006
Citation: Brooks, B.M., Rajeshwari, R., Nicklas, T.A., Yang, S-J., Berenson, G.S. 2006. Association of calcium intake, dairy product consumption with overweight status in young adults (1995-1996): The Bogalusa Heart Study. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 25(6):523-532.

Interpretive Summary: The association between calcium intake and dairy product consumption with overweight and obesity in young adults is unknown. Utilizing data collected on over 1,300 young adults, we discovered that there was no significant association between dairy product consumption, calcium intake, and overweight. However, intake of calcium and low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with abdominal adiposity in white males only. Increasing one’s intake of calcium and low-fat dairy products may be associated with lower abdominal adiposity, particularly in young adult white males. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution until large clinical trials confirm a causal association between the intake of calcium and dairy products and body weight regulation.

Technical Abstract: The objective is to examine the association between calcium intake and dairy product consumption with overweight and obesity in young adults. The sample used in this study consisted of 1306 young adults, ages 19–38 years, who participated in the 1995–1996 young adult survey. Analysis was performed with analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for ethnicity-gender groups separately. No significant association was found between dairy product consumption, calcium intake and overweight, defined by body mass index or waist circumference. However, there was a significant inverse association between calcium intake, low-fat dairy product consumption and waist-to-hip ratio in white males. Increasing intake of calcium and low-fat dairy products may be associated with lower abdominal adiposity, particularly in young adult white males.