Abstract
Background: Weight loss (WL) reduces bone mass and increases fracture risk. Mechanisms regulating calcium metabolism during WL are unclear. Objective: The objective was to assess the effect of 6 wk of WL at 2 different amounts of calcium intake [normal (NICa): 1 g/d; high (HiCa): 1.8 g/d] on true fractional calcium absorption (TFCA), bone turnover, and bone-regulating hormones in overweight postmenopausal women. Design: Seventy-three women (body mass index, 26.9 ± 1.9 kg/m2) were recruited either to consume a moderately energy-restricted diet (WL group) or to maintain their body weight [weight-maintenance (WM) group] and were randomly assigned to either the HiCa or the NICa group in a double-blind manner. Subjects underwent weekly diet counseling, and measurements were taken at baseline and after 6 wk. Results: Fifty-seven women completed the study and had a baseline TFCA of 24.9 ± 7.4%. Energy restriction significantly decreased the total calcium absorbed (P < 0.05) in the WL group (n = 32) compared with the WM group (n = 25; analysis of covariance). Regression analysis showed that a greater rate of weight loss suppressed TFCA and the total calcium absorbed (P < 0.05) in the HiCa group. The women in the NICa WL group absorbed inadequate amounts of calcium (195 ± 49 mg/d), whereas the women in the HiCa WL group absorbed adequate amounts (348 ± 118 mg/d). Parathyroid hormone explained 22% of the variance in calcium absorbed in the NICa group only. Conclusions: We suggest that WL is associated with elevated calcium requirements that, if not met, could activate the calcium-parathyroid hormone axis to absorb more calcium. Normal intakes of calcium during energy restriction result in inadequate total calcium absorption and could ultimately compromise calcium balance and bone mass.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 123-130 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | American Journal of Clinical Nutrition |
Volume | 80 |
Issue number | 1 |
State | Published - Jul 2004 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Nutrition and Dietetics
Keywords
- Bone turnover
- Calcium absorption
- Diet
- Postmenopausal status
- Weight loss