Weight management

Calcium may reduce waist circumference among people predisposed to obesity

waist circumference

Previous studies indicate a relation between dietary calcium and change in body weight (BW) and waist circumference (WC), that could depend on genetic predisposition to obesity. The objective of this study was to examine this hypothesis.

The study is based on 7569 individuals from various studies (the MONItoring trends and determinants of CArdiovascular disease Study, the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Study and the INTER99 study). 54 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were combined in 4 scores as indicators of genetic predisposition to obesity.

An annual loss of BW of 0.076 kg per 1000 mg calcium was found but no significant association was observed between dietary calcium and annual change in WC . However, an interaction between a score of 6 WC-associated SNPs and calcium in relation to annual change in WC. Each risk allele was associated with an annual reduction in WC of 0.043 cm per 1000 mg calcium.

Source: Larsen SC et al. AJCN. First published ahead of print February 5, 2014 as doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.076596.

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