Dairy calcium supplementation in overweight or obese persons: its effect on markers of fat metabolism

Background: Dairy calcium supplementation has been proposed to increase fat oxidation and to inhibit lipogenesis. Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of calcium supplementation on markers of fat metabolism. Design: In a placebo-controlled, crossover experiment, 10 overweight or obese subjects who were low calcium consumers received 800 mg dairy Ca/d for 5 wk. After 4 wk, adipose tissue was taken for biopsy for analysis of gene expression. Respiratory exchange, glycerol turnover, and subcutaneous adipose tissue microdialysis were performed for 7 h after consumption of 400 mg Ca or placebo, and the ingestion of either randomized slow-release caffeine (SRC; 300 mg) or lactose (500 mg). One week later, the test was repeated with the SRC or lactose crossover. Results: Calcium supplementation increased urinary calcium excretion by 16% (P = 0.017) but did not alter plasma parathyroid hormone or osteocalcin concentrations. Resting energy expenditure (59.9 ± 3.0 or 59.6 + 3.3 kcal/h), fat oxidation (58.4 ± 2.5 or 53.8 ±2.2 mg/min), plasma free fatty acid concentrations (0.63 ± 0.02 or 0.62 ± 0.03 mmol/L), and glycerol turnover (3.63 ± 0.41 or 3.70 ± 0.38 μmol ·kg -1 ·min -1 ) were similar with or without calcium, respectively. SRC significantly increased free fatty acid concentrations, resting fat oxidation, and resting energy expenditure. During microdialysis, epinephrine increased dialysate glycerol concentrations by 250% without and 254% with calcium. Expression of 7 key metabolic genes in subcutaneous adipose tissue was not affected by calcium supplementation. Conclusion: Dairy calcium supplementation in overweight subjects with habitually low calcium intakes failed to alter fat metabolism and energy expenditure under resting conditions and during acute stimulation by caffeine or epinephrine.