Dairy Calcium May Impact Lipid Digestion

COPENHAGEN, Denmark—High calcium intake via dairy products, but not from supplements, impacts postprandial fat metabolism, but not appetite, according to researchers from the University of Copenhagen (Am J Clin Nutr, 85, 8:678-87, 2007). Eighteen subjects received four different isocaloric meals in a randomized, crossover trial; meals contained high (172 mg/MJ), medium (84 mg/MJ) or low (15 mg/MJ) calcium from dairy products, or a high amount of calcium as a calcium carbonate supplement (183 mg/MJ). Dairy calcium significantly diminished the postprandial lipid response. Compared to the low-calcium meal, the baseline adjusted area under the curve (AUC) for chylomicron triacylglycerol was 17-percent lower after the medium calcium meal and 19-percent lower after the high calcium meal. Compared to taking the supplement, the high calcium meal showed a 17- percent reduction in the AUC and the medium calcium a 15-percent reduction.

The researchers concluded increased calcium intake from dairy products attenuates postprandial lipidemia, probably because of reduced fat absorption; supplemental calcium did not have the same effect, possibly due to the chemical form of calcium or cofactors present in dairy products. Appetite suppression, glucose metabolism and gut hormone secretion were also not affected by calcium intake.