Dairy Proteins Help Trim Visceral Fat, Increase Muscle

HAMILTON, OntarioIndividuals who follow a low-carbohydrate diet high in proteins derived from dairy products significantly trim visceral fat and increase lean muscle, according to a new study published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Researchers at McMaster University compared three groups of overweight and obese, but otherwise healthy, premenopausal women. Each consumed either low, medium or high amounts of dairy foods coupled with higher or lower amounts of protein and carbohydrates. Participants exercised seven days per week for four months, a routine that included five days of aerobic exercise and two days of circuit weightlifting.

While all groups experience identical total weight losses, the higher-protein, high-dairy group experienced greater whole-body fat and abdomen fat losses, greater lean mass gains and greater increases in strength. The lower-protein, low-dairy group lost about 1.5 pounds of muscle compared to the lower-protein, medium dairy group that lost almost no muscle. The higher-protein, high-dairy group actually gained 1.5 pounds of muscle, representing a 3-pound difference between the low- and high-dairy groups. The higher-protein, high-dairy group lost twice as much belly fat than the lower-protein, low-dairy group.

"One hundred percent of the weight lost in the higher-protein, high-dairy group was fat. And the participants gained muscle mass, which is a major change in body composition," the researchers said. Fat in the abdomen is thought to be especially bad for cardiovascular and metabolic health, and it seemsaccording to what we found in this studyincreasing calcium and protein in the diet may help to further promote loss of fat from the worst storage area in the body."