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4 Division of Nutritional Sciences, 5 Department of Statistics, and 6 Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801; and 7 Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
* To whom correspondence should be addressed: E-mail elevans{at}uiuc.edu.
| ABSTRACT |
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| Introduction |
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Higher protein weight loss diets have received attention due to purported improvements in adherence and body composition, including enhanced loss of fat mass and preservation of lean mass (5–7). Recent prospective and clinical trials suggest that higher protein diets, if accompanied by adequate calcium, enhance bone health (8–11). This remains controversial in light of long-standing theory and evidence that increasing protein intakes promote calciuria (12). Increased urinary calcium with greater protein intake is traditionally considered to reflect bone demineralization; however, Kerstetter et al. (13) have shown that additional dietary protein promotes intestinal calcium absorption and reduces the fraction of urinary calcium of bone origin. Dawson-Hughes (14) has proposed that the net effect of dietary protein on bone mineral status depends on dietary availability of calcium.
In light of these observations, we propose that a diet utilizing dairy foods as a source of both protein and calcium will preserve bone mineral density (BMD)8 and content (BMC) relative to a conventional higher carbohydrate weight loss diet. We have adopted a free-living, freely selected diet approach in which patients are educated about selection of food groups rather than directly controlling intakes of individual nutrients. This design tests effectiveness, rather than efficacy. That is, it will not resolve the independent or interactive effects of dietary protein and calcium on bone health during weight loss; however, the design is more generalizable to clinical practice than highly controlled feeding studies and more directly answers the question most relevant to the clinical practitioner: "What is the effect on bone health of prescribing a higher protein weight loss diet emphasizing dairy?"
The primary aim of this study was to compare BMC and BMD during 4 mo of active weight loss and 8 additional mo of weight maintenance in free-living participants on a diet providing 1.4 g·kg–1·d–1 protein and 3 dairy servings (PRO) compared with an isocaloric, conventional weight loss diet providing 0.8 g·kg–1·d–1 protein (CARB). Based on previous work, we anticipated increased protein and calcium intakes, elevated urinary calcium excretion, and attenuated bone loss in PRO compared with CARB participants.
| Subjects and Methods |
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Treatments.
The PRO diet prescribed 1.4 g·kg–1·d–1 protein, 3 daily servings of dairy, and
30, 40 and 30% of energy, respectively, from protein, carbohydrate, and fat (carbohydrate:protein ratio < 1.5). The CARB diet prescribed 0.8 g·kg–1·d–1 protein, 2 daily servings of dairy, and roughly 15, 55, and 30% of daily energy, respectively, from protein, carbohydrate, and fat (carbohydrate:protein ratio > 3.5). Both diets prescribed 6276 kJ/d for females and 7113 kJ/d for males, and equal total fat (
57 g/d) and fiber (
17 g/d). Subjects were asked not to take any dietary supplements during the study.
Research dietitians instructed participants on portion sizes and emphasized the Food Guide Pyramid (15) for the CARB group and replacement of starchy staples (breads, rice, pasta, cereals) with meats, eggs, and dairy for the PRO group. Participants were provided 2-wk cycling menu plans. Each diet prescribed micronutrient intakes meeting recommended dietary allowances (16), fat intake meeting guidelines by the AHA (17), and 5 servings of vegetables and 2–3 servings of fruit daily. Participants reported 1 h weekly for support, questions and answers, review of diet records and compliance, submission of 3-d weighed food records, and body weight measurement. Mean intakes at 0, 4, 8, and 12 mo were calculated with Nutritionist Pro software (First DataBank) and means were used for analysis of dietary compliance and nutrient intakes. We encouraged participants to spend at least 30 min walking 5 d/wk according to NIH Guidelines for Weight Management (1). Activity was monitored using daily logs and 3 d/mo using armband accelerometers (BodyMedia).
Bone and body composition. Whole body (WB), lumbar spine (LS), and total hip (TH) DXA scans were performed at 0, 4, 8, and 12 mo (Illinois: Hologic QDR 4500A, software version 11.1:3; Penn State: Hologic QDR 4500W, software version 12.5). Scans for a given individual were analyzed by the same technician at each site using standard manufacturer guidelines. The same array scan mode was used for all central measure scans. DXA machines were calibrated daily using manufacturer phantoms. Analyzed LS data included L1–L4. Volunteers wore light, metal-free, cotton clothing. CVs for DXA outcomes of interest are 1.0–2.0%.
Urinary calcium measures. Twenty-four–hour urine samples were collected at baseline and at 8 mo from Illinois participants. A total of 42 Illinois participants remained in the study at 8 mo, providing complete urinary calcium data. Ten-milliliter aliquots of mixed collections were diluted and tested by atomic flame absorption spectroscopy, using a Perkin-Elmer 306 atomic absorption spectrophotometer to determine calcium concentration.
Statistical analysis. We used SPSS version 14 for all statistical analyses. Normality assumptions were tested by the Shapiro-Wilk statistic. Reported values are means ± SEM for normally distributed variables and median [interquartile range (IQR)] for non-normally distributed variables. Baseline characteristics, weight change, and intakes were compared using ANOVA. Linear mixed models with random slopes and time of measurement as a repeated effect were applied to BMC and BMD at the 3 measurement sites (WB, LS, and TH) in intent-to-treat fashion, adjusted for baseline values and gender, site of study participation, and 2- and 3-way interactions of gender and study site with diet and time. We also tested tertiles of age among female participants to indirectly control for menopausal status. Dietary treatment effects on urinary calcium measures at 8 mo were analyzed using ANCOVA, controlling for baseline urinary calcium and gender. ANCOVA was also employed to assess whether elevated urinary calcium excretion was related to BMC within dietary treatment groups. Additional details of the statistical analysis are in the supplemental appendix. Values in the text are means (95% CI) or means ± SEM.
| Results |
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As expected, an increase in protein intake by PRO participants replaced predominantly carbohydrate, although PRO participants also consumed slightly more fat (Supplemental Table 2). Calcium intake increased in the PRO group and declined in the CARB group with energy restriction (Table 2). PRO participants consumed 387 ± 72 mg more calcium daily than CARB participants at 4 mo and 261 ± 81.6 mg at 12 mo (P < 0.01). While PRO calcium intakes met the recommended dietary allowance (16), calcium intake provided by the CARB diet was inadequate for female participants (Table 2). Because protein and calcium intakes increased or decreased together according to diet assignment, the ratio of protein:calcium intakes did not differ by diet or time (Supplemental Table 2). Mean servings of dairy were as prescribed: 2 servings per day in CARB and 3 in PRO participants. Subjects reported no intake of supplements, as prescribed. Food records indicated that PRO participants consumed 169 ± 16 IU vitamin D, which was 34 ± 23 IU more than CARB participants (P = 0.15); however, our nutrient database was not complete for all foods with respect to vitamin D, and actual contents may vary considerably from labeled values (18,19), making the accuracy of these estimates questionable. Physical activity did not differ between diet groups. BMD at the WB, LS, and TH was greater over the course of the study in PRO participants (Fig. 1). BMC was also greater in PRO participants (P < 0.05; Supplemental Table 3).
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Urinary calcium declined by mo 8 in the CARB group but was maintained in the PRO diet group (Fig. 2). Adjusting for baseline BMC, diet group, and gender, urinary calcium levels predicted decreased WB BMC (β = –0.38; P = 0.032), indicating that a portion of variation in urinary calcium that was not explained by protein intake was negatively associated with WB BMC. This effect was not observed for LS BMC (P = 0.65) or TH BMC (P = 0.59).
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| Discussion |
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Shapses and Riedt (4) reviewed reports of bone mineral loss with weight loss and summarize that 10% weight loss would be expected to produce 1–2% bone loss at various sites. Loss of BMD with weight loss is thought to occur due to changes in the weight-bearing load, estrogen status, circulating leptin, and reduced calcium intake with energy restriction. Skov et al. (8) reported that a higher protein diet conferred greater weight loss but similar bone loss or an improved bone loss:weight loss ratio over 6 mo in adults. As in the present study, Skov et al. (8) reported adequate calcium intakes on the higher protein diet but low calcium intakes among higher carbohydrate dieters.
The influence of protein intake on calcium balance and bone health remains controversial. Higher protein intakes consistently increase urinary calcium excretion (22). Early research found no connection between calcium absorption and protein intake (23–26), suggesting extra urinary calcium must reflect loss from bone (12). Specifically, it is thought that bone is demineralized to buffer acid reabsorbed during renal handling of sulfate metabolites of dietary methionine and cysteine (27). More recently, Kerstetter et al. (28–30) have reported increased calcium absorption with higher protein intakes using dual stable calcium isotopes and calcium-controlled interventions; however, a similar study did not find elevated absorption based on protein intake (31). Roughead et al. (32) reported no differences but a trend toward higher calcium retention in a group consuming increased protein from whole-food (meat) sources. Critically, bone metabolism markers did not differ. Another study demonstrated an increase in the fraction of urinary calcium of dietary origin during a diet providing 2.1 g·kg–1·d–1 protein compared with a control diet providing 1.0 g·kg–1·d–1 (13), suggesting additional excreted calcium did not originate in bone but rather from improved intestinal absorption.
Dawson-Hughes et al. (33) reported a calcium-protein interaction in participants randomized to calcium supplementation or placebo and divided into tertiles of freely selected protein intake. Elderly participants consuming more protein and calcium gained bone mineral relative to those at lower intakes of either nutrient. Bowen et al. (11) measured bone resorption and formation markers across 12 wk of weight loss on a mixed protein or dairy protein weight-loss diet, concluding that the calcium-rich, dairy-based diet reduced bone turnover compared with a diet rich in protein but poorer in calcium. In the present study, ample calcium was supplied as a natural consequence of emphasizing lean protein sources, including dairy.
Median daily urinary calcium was 167 mg for PRO and 98 mg for CARB dieters. PRO males consumed
400 mg and females 300 mg more calcium daily than CARB participants. Accordingly, assuming a conservative 20–25% calcium absorption, additional available calcium would approximately compensate or exceed urinary losses. We have no data to account for endogenous fecal calcium losses, which may also be influenced by protein intake (34), nor can we report actual calcium absorption. However, if absorption increases with protein as reported by Kerstetter et al. (13,28–30), gains in available calcium could substantially outweigh urinary losses, supporting bone mineralization. Our data support this speculation.
Our study is not without limitations. Compliance assessment relies on 3-d weighed food records. Available nutrient databases are incomplete with respect to vitamin D, making inference concerning this nutrient difficult. DXA measurement is influenced by changes in tissue thickness, an effect that is not well quantified (35,36). Accordingly, changes over time within diet groups should be interpreted with care; however, the relative impact of the PRO vs. CARB diet is interpretable, as groups did not differ in weight, fat, or body thickness change. All measures demonstrated a marked benefit of the PRO compared with the CARB diet on the order of 1 to 3%. The independent effects of increased protein and calcium on bone health are not known given the present design. Although limiting internal validity (i.e. isolation of protein and calcium effects), the design maximizes external validity, demonstrating that a high-dairy, high-protein diet will protect, not harm, bone relative to a conventional weight loss diet in free-living patients.
In conclusion, a higher protein weight loss diet emphasizing dairy as a lean protein source naturally improved calcium intake and preserved bone mineral during weight loss relative to a conventional higher carbohydrate diet in this free-living population. Though not observed in the present sample, it is likely that such a diet would improve vitamin D intake for some patients due to fortification of this nutrient in dairy, conferring further bone benefits. These data are consistent with current literature indicating dietary protein may have direct benefits to bone health, provided calcium intake is adequate (8–10,33). Obesity and osteoporosis are major public health concerns and are at odds with one another; to treat the first is often inviting the other. A dietary regimen that protects bone health while promoting fat loss is of high clinical value.
| FOOTNOTES |
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2 Author disclosures: M. P. Thorpe, E. H. Jacobson, D. K. Layman, X. He, P. M. Kris-Etherton, and E. Evans, no conflicts of interest. ![]()
3 Supplemental Tables 1–3, Supplemental Appendix, and Supplemental References are available with the online posting of this paper at jn.nutrition.org. ![]()
8 Abbreviations used: BMC, bone mineral content; BMD, bone mineral density; CARB, high-carbohydrate weight loss diet; DXA, dual X-ray absorptiometry; IQR, interquartile range; LS, lumbar spine; PRO, high-protein, -dairy, and -calcium diet; TH, total hip; WB, whole body. ![]()
Manuscript received 15 January 2008. Initial review completed 3 February 2008. Revision accepted 10 March 2008.
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