Observational studies have found that dairy consumption is inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome(Reference Pereira, Jacobs and Van Horn1, Reference Elwood, Pickering and Fehily2). The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors, including dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance, increased blood pressure and abdominal obesity, that together markedly increase the risk of diabetes and CVD. One of the components in dairy products, which has been associated with this reduced risk, is Ca.
The effect of a high Ca intake on energy balance has attracted considerable attention. Several observational studies have found inverse associations between intake of Ca or dairy products and body weight, body fat and abdominal obesity(Reference Pereira, Jacobs and Van Horn1, Reference Brooks, Rajeshwari and Nicklas3–Reference Zemel, Shi and Greer11). In support of this, intervention studies have shown that Ca, especially dairy Ca, produces decreases in body weight and body fat(Reference Davies, Heaney and Recker4, Reference Caan, Neuhouser and Aragaki12–Reference Zemel, Richards and Mathis16). However, others have failed to find an effect on body fatness(Reference Lorenzen, Molgaard and Michaelsen8, Reference Winzenberg, Shaw and Fryer17–Reference Bowen, Noakes and Clifton20). We have recently shown that one of the mechanisms by which dairy Ca affects energy balance, and potentially body weight, is via an increased faecal fat and energy excretion(Reference Bendsen, Hother and Jensen21, Reference Jacobsen, Lorenzen and Toubro22). Others have shown that supplementary Ca produces increased faecal fat excretion(Reference Christensen, Lorenzen and Svith23). Some found that this was mainly due to an increased excretion of SFA(Reference Shahkhalili, Murset and Meirim24–Reference Bhattacharyya, Thera and Anderson26), but others did not(Reference Bendsen, Hother and Jensen21).
SFA, especially palmitic acid, are the dietary component considered most responsible for increases in serum cholesterol concentrations(Reference Grundy and Denke27). The increase occurs primarily in the LDL-cholesterol fraction, and it is well known that a high concentration of LDL-cholesterol is one of the strongest predictors of increased risk of CVD. The mechanism by which SFA increase LDL is not completely understood, but it has been suggested that it may be via suppression of LDL-receptor-mediated clearance of LDL(Reference Grundy and Denke27). Dairy products have a high content of SFA and cholesterol, and it has therefore been a general perception that fatty dairy products are associated with a risk of CVD. However, evidence from observational studies indicates that milk or dairy consumption is inversely related to incidence of CVD(Reference Elwood, Pickering and Givens28). Furthermore, several studies have indicated that milk and other dairy products may not affect the lipid profile as adversely, as would otherwise be predicted from their fat content and composition (reviewed in Pfeuffer & Schrezenmeir(Reference Pfeuffer and Schrezenmeir29), Tholstrup(Reference Tholstrup30), Nestel(Reference Nestel31)). Dietary Ca intake has been observed to be inversely related to total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations(Reference Jacqmain, Doucet and Després5). However, the results from intervention studies examining the effect of Ca (dairy or supplementary) on the lipid profile are inconsistent(Reference Zemel, Thompson and Milstead14, Reference Thompson, Rostad and Janzow19, Reference Shahkhalili, Murset and Meirim24, Reference Denke, Fox and Schulte25, Reference Reid32–Reference Karanja, Morris and Rufolo36). Thus, there is a need for more studies that explore the potential role of Ca intake in lipid metabolism.
The aim of the present study was to examine whether a concomitant intake of the Ca content of dairy products modifies the effect of dairy fat on the lipid profile.
Experimental work
Subjects
A total of fifteen male subjects were recruited through advertising in newspapers, on the Internet, and at universities and student halls of residence in Copenhagen. The subjects were healthy, with a mean age of 32·8 (sem 1·2) years and a mean BMI of 28·1 (sem 0·6) kg/m2. The exclusion criteria were smoking, lactose intolerance, infections or metabolic diseases and the use of dietary supplements. The study was carried out at the Department of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Life Sciences, Frederiksberg, Denmark. The study was conducted according to the guidelines laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki, and all procedures involving human subjects were approved by the Municipal Ethical Committee of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg (KF 01-144/02). Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects. The study was registered at ClinicalTrails.gov (NCT00519909). Subjects received 6000 DKK (approximately $1000) on completion of all tests.
Design
The study had a randomised, cross-over design, with four intervention periods of 10 d with controlled intake of four different isoenergetic diets. The subjects were randomised by draws to the sequence of the four diets. Between each diet period, there was a washout period of at least 1 week, where the subjects consumed their habitual diets. Due to the design, it was not possible to make the study blinded for the subjects. The study was therefore only blinded for the staff collecting, handling and analysing the blood, faeces and urine samples.
Diet
The four different diets contained low Ca and high fat (LC/HF), high Ca and high fat (HC/HF), low Ca and low fat (LC/LF), or high Ca and low fat (HC/LF) (Table 1). The computer database of foods from the National Food Agency of Denmark (Dankost 3000; National Food Agency of Denmark, Søborg, Denmark) was used to calculate the content of micro- and macronutrients. The main source of Ca was dairy products, and the main difference in dietary fat between the LF and HF diets was dairy fat (approximately 90 %). During the HC diet periods, the subjects were given milk with every meal to increase their Ca intake (Table 1). During the LC diet periods, they were given a protein drink containing whey powder (Lacprodan® DI-9224; Arla Foods Ingredients AmbA, Viby, Denmark), casein powder (Miprodan® 30; Arla Foods Ingredients AmbA) and lactose (Arla Foods Ingredients AmbA). Thus, all diets had the same content of whey, casein and lactose. In addition, the diets were adjusted so that the LF and HF diets had the same quantity of dairy fat and the same fatty acid composition (Table 1). The energy content of the LF and HF diets was equated by increasing the intake of carbohydrate-rich foods (mainly refined carbohydrates: white bread, potatoes, rice, jam, sugar and juice) during the LF diet periods to minimise changes in fibre intake. Each diet was composed of three different breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes, and three different snacks, which were served on alternate days. The aim was that the only difference between the four diets should be the amount of dairy Ca and dairy fat. The diets were prepared at the department according to each subject's individual energy requirement and adjusted to the nearest 1 MJ. The energy requirement of each subject was calculated as BMR × physical activity level. BMR was estimated using the following equation(Reference Westerterp, Donkers and Fredrix37):
Nutrient composition of the four diets*
LC/HF, low Ca and high fat; HC/HF, high Ca and high fat; LC/LF, low Ca and low fat; HC/LF, high Ca and low fat; E%, percentage of energy.
* Each diet was composed of three different breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes, and three different snacks, which were served on alternate days. The diets were adjusted according to the subjects individual energy requirement.
Body composition was measured at baseline by the bioelectrical impedance method, and fat-free mass (FFM) and fat mass (FM) were calculated (Animeter; Unitech, Hobro, Denmark). The subjects' basic physical activity level value were set to 1·6–2·0, which was estimated on the basis of their main occupation(38). If subjects reported participating in sports in their spare time, their physical activity level value was increased according to the type of physical activity and the average hours spent weekly on the activity(Reference Bouchard, Tremblay and Leblanc39). The mean energy requirement of the subjects who completed the study was 14 MJ/d.
On weekdays, breakfast was consumed at the department, whereas lunch, snacks and dinner were given to the subjects to eat at home. All meals for the weekends were supplied to the subjects to consume at home. The subjects were instructed to adhere strictly to the supplied diet and not to mix the different meals, and to report any deviation from the diet plan. In addition, they were instructed to divide the supplied milk into four portions and consume the same amount with each meal/snack. In addition to the meals, the subjects were supplied with water with a low content of Ca (12 mg/l), which they were allowed to drink ad libitum. They were allowed to make tea and coffee with this water. The subjects were instructed to register their intake, and no significant differences in water intake between the diet periods were found.
Anthropometrics and body composition
Height was ascertained at baseline to the nearest centimetre using a Seca stadiometer (Hultafors AB, Hultafors, Sweden). Weight was measured at baseline and before and after each diet period. The subjects were fasting on all occasions. Weight was measured in kg with one decimal on a Lindeltronic 8000 scale (Samhall Lavi AB, Kristianstad, Sweden).
Laboratory analyses
Blood samples
Venous blood samples were drawn on the morning of the first day of every diet period and on the morning after the last day of every diet period. The subjects had fasted overnight. Blood samples for plasma analyses were collected in tubes containing EDTA and placed on ice immediately. Blood samples for serum analyses were collected in serum tubes and kept at room temperature for 30 min to coagulate. All samples were centrifuged at 2800 g for 15 min at 4°C and stored at − 20°C until later analysis (samples for measurement of LDL-cholesterol were stored at − 80°C).
Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, NEFA, TAG and insulin
Total cholesterol was measured by an enzymatic photometric test using a Pentra 400 analyser (HORIBA ABX, Montpellier, France). CVintra and CVinter were 0·9 and 1·6 %, respectively. HDL-cholesterol was measured by an enzymatic colorimetric test using a Pentra 400 analyser (HORIBA ABX). CVintra and CVinter were 1·2 and 4·0 %, respectively. LDL-cholesterol was measured by an enzymatic colorimetric test using a Pentra 400 analyser (HORIBA ABX). CVintra and CVinter were 1·3 and 2·7 %, respectively. NEFA was determined by an enzymatic colorimetric method using a Pentra 400 analyser (HORIBA ABX). CVintra and CVinter were 1·7 and 5·1 %, respectively. TAG was measured by an enzymatic photometric test using a Pentra 400 analyser (HORIBA ABX). CVintra and CVinter were 2·6 and 3·2 %, respectively. Insulin was determined by chemiluminescent immunometric assay using an Immulite 1000 analyser (Diagnostic Products Corporation, Los Angeles, CA, USA). CVintra and CVinter were 2·7 and 7·4 %, respectively.
Plasma concentrations of glucose
Glucose was measured by an enzymatic endpoint method (Hexokinase) using a Pentra 400 analyser (HORIBA ABX). CVintra and CVinter were 0·7 and 2·5 %, respectively.
Faeces
All faeces excreted were collected in pre-weighed containers during the last 5 d of each diet period. In addition, the subjects completed a questionnaire on daily defecation frequency and faeces consistency throughout every diet period. The faecal samples were weighed and frozen at − 20°C. Before analysis, the samples were freeze-dried and homogenised, and samples from the same diet period were pooled. Faecal energy was obtained using a bomb calorimeter (Ika-calorimeter system C4000; Heitersheim, Germany). Before total fat content was measured, the samples were acid hydrolysed with 3 m-HCl. Total fat content was measured by a method modified after Bligh & Dyer(Reference Bligh and Dyer40).
Bile acids in faecal samples were quantified by reversed-phase HPLC with pulsed amperometric detection as described by others(Reference Dekker, Van der Meer and Olieman41, Reference Knarreborg, Engberg and Jensen42). The freeze-dried samples (1 g) were diluted 50-fold in a mixture containing 20% acetonitrile, 10% NaOH and 70% water. Ursodeoxycholate (sigma) was added to the mixture as an internal standard at a final concentration of 40 μmol/l. The mixture was mixed using a Shaker VXR vibrax (IKA-Werke, Staufen, Germany) at 1500 rpm for 30 s and subsequently centrifuged at 5000 g for 10 min. The supernatant was passed through a nylon syringe filter membrane (Cameo 17N-227DDR02T17NB) before injection onto the HPLC column.
Ca was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using a PYE UNICAM SP9 atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Philips Electron Optics, Mahwah, NJ, USA). Before analysis, the samples were destroyed by dry-ashing at 525°C for 6 h, and the ashes were dissolved in acid (6·5 % HNO3). The solution was diluted with a lanthanum chloride solution before Ca concentration was measured.
Transit time was measured using non-absorbable, radio-opaque markers (Medifact, Göteborg, Sweden). On the 4th to the 8th day of each diet period, the subjects consumed a capsule containing twenty markers with breakfast. There were different shaped markers for each day. Transit time was measured as described elsewhere(Reference Cummings, Jenkins and Wiggins43). Retrieval of the markers consumed on days 5–7 was also used as a measurement for complete faecal collection. If the retrieval was above 70 %, the collection was assumed to be complete.
Urine samples
During the last 24 h of each diet period, the subjects collected all urine. The urine volume was measured, and the samples were stored at − 20°C until further analyses. Urinary Ca concentration was measured using atomic absorption on a Spectra AA-200 (Varian, Mulgrave, VIC, Australia). CVintra and CVinter were 2·1 and 2·9 %, respectively.
Statistical analyses
All values are expressed as means with their standard errors unless otherwise stated. A two-way ANOVA was used to examine the effect of dairy Ca intake and dairy fat intake, as well as the interaction between the two (only included when significant), on blood variables and body weight. ANOVA was performed in Proc Mixed. As the study had a cross-over design, subjects were included as a random effect. Values from before the diet period were included as a covariate in all analyses. Sequence of the test diets was included as a covariate if it was found to have a significant effect. LSMEANS were used to estimate the adjusted means. Differences in faecal and urinary variables were analysed by two-way ANOVA with subjects included as a random effect. Pair-wise comparisons were performed by a paired t test with Tukey's adjustment. All statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Analysis Package, SAS© version 9.1 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). The level of significance was set at P < 0·05.
Power
Based on studies performed previously at our department, we have assumed that a study group of twelve subjects should give us 85 % power, sufficient to detect a difference in faecal fat excretion of 4 g/d(Reference Bendsen, Hother and Jensen21, Reference Jacobsen, Lorenzen and Toubro22). Calculating with a dropout rate of 20 %, we included fifteen subjects in the study.
Results
Of the fifteen subjects, nine completed all four diet periods. Reasons for not completing the study were moving address (one subject) and problems with compliance to the protocol (five subjects). Only data from the subjects completing the study were included in the data analyses. The mean total recovery of Ca (faecal+urine) was above 90 % during all diet periods, indicating a high compliance to the diet. During the HC/HF diet periods, one subject had a very low Ca recovery ( < 50 %), indicating a very low compliance, and all data from this subject during this diet period were therefore excluded from the statistical analyses. The subjects' habitual Ca intake was 1223 (sem 96) mg/d.
Blood variables
Concentrations of total, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, TAG, HDL:LDL-cholesterol and total:HDL-cholesterol before and after each diet period are presented in Table 2.
(Mean values with their standard errors)
LC/HF: low Ca and high fat; HC/HF: high Ca and high fat; LC/LF: low Ca and low fat; HC/LF: high Ca and low fat.
Mean values were significantly different from concentration before the diet period: * P < 0·05 (paired t test).
† n 9.
‡ n 8.
§ Adjusted for concentration measured before each diet period.
There was a significant effect of dairy Ca and dairy fat intake on total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations (Fig. 1). Dairy fat but not dairy Ca had a significant effect on HDL-cholesterol. Dairy Ca but not dairy fat had a significant effect on total:HDL-cholesterol and HDL:LDL-cholesterol. There was no significant interaction between dairy Ca and dairy fat intake on either of the variables (Table 2).
Individual changes in LDL-cholesterol concentration for each subject from before to after each diet period. (a) Low Ca and high fat; (b) high Ca and high fat; (c) low Ca and low fat and (d) high Ca and low fat.
Independent of dairy Ca intake, total, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations increased with increased dairy fat intake. Total, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol concentrations were 9 % (adjusted mean: HF 5·50 (sem 0·15) v. LF 5·04 (sem 0·15) mmol/l; P < 0·0001), 14 % (adjusted mean: HF 3·52 (sem 0·15) mmol/l v. LF 3·08 (sem 0·15) mmol/l; P < 0·0001) and 13 % (adjusted mean: HF 1·22 (sem 0·02) mmol/l v. LF 1·08 (sem 0·02) mmol/l; P = 0·0002) higher after HF intake compared with LF intake, when adjusted for concentrations before the diet periods. A trend was found for total:HDL-cholesterol concentration (P = 0·0575).
Independent of dairy fat intake, total and LDL-cholesterol, but not HDL-cholesterol, concentrations were decreased by increased dairy Ca intake. Total and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were 4 % (adjusted mean: HC 5·16 (sem 0·15) mmol/l v. LC 5·39 (sem 0·15) mmol/l; P = 0·0051) and 10 % (adjusted mean: HC 3·12 (sem 0·16) mmol/l v. LC 3·48 (sem 0·15) mmol/l; P < 0·0001) lower after HC intake compared with LC intake, when adjusted for concentrations before the diet periods. In addition, the concentration of total:HDL-cholesterol was 5 % lower (adjusted mean: HC 4·54 (sem 0·12) v. LC 4·80 (sem 0·12); P = 0·0299) and of HDL:LDL was 12 % higher (adjusted mean: HC 0·38 (sem 0·01) v. LC 0·34 (sem 0·01); P = 0·0025) after HC intake compared with LC intake.
There was no significant effect of either dairy Ca intake or dairy fat intake on NEFA, insulin or glucose concentrations after the diet period when adjusted for concentrations before the diet period (data not shown).
Excretion of energy, fat, bile acids and calcium
Due to a low recovery of transit markers ( < 70 %), four faecal collections (from different subjects) were judged incomplete and were therefore excluded.
Urine and faecal excretion of Ca are presented in Table 3. As expected, dairy Ca intake had a significant effect on urine and faecal Ca excretion. Faecal (adjusted mean: HC 2359 mg/d v. LC 537 mg/d; P < 0·0001) and urine (adjusted mean: HC 140 (sem 16) mg/d v. LC 113 (sem 16) mg/d) Ca excretion was significantly higher during the HC diet periods compared with the LC diet periods.
(Mean values with their standard errors)
LC/HF, low Ca and high fat; HC/HF, high Ca and high fat; LC/LF, low Ca and low fat and HC/LF, high Ca and low fat.
* n 8.
† n 7.
‡ Log-transformed before statistical analysis.
Faecal excretion of total fat, energy, bile acids, faecal weight (wet and dry) and transit time are presented in Table 4. Total faecal fat excretion was increased by increased dairy Ca intake (adjusted mean: LC 5·87 g/d v. HC 8·34 g/d; P < 0·0001) and increased dairy fat intake (adjusted mean: LF 6·47 g/d v. HF 8·35 g/d; P = 0·0052). Faecal energy excretion (adjusted mean: LC 629 kJ/d v. HC 802 kJ/d; P = 0·0003) and bile acid excretion (adjusted mean: LC 203 μmol/d v. HC 316 μmol/d; P = 0·0041) were increased by increased dairy Ca intake but not increased by dairy fat intake.
Faecal variables in the four different diet periods
LC/HF, low Ca and high fat; HC/HF, high Ca and high fat; LC/LF, low Ca and low fat; HC/LF, high Ca and low fat.
* n 8.
† n 7.
‡ Log-transformed before statistical analyses.
Discussion
The present study examined the short-term effects of high v. low dietary Ca intakes, in combination with HF and LF isoenergetic diets, on the lipid profile and faecal excretion of fat and bile acids. The major finding is that dairy Ca attenuates the increase in total and LDL-cholesterol produced by increased dairy fat, without affecting the rise in HDL-cholesterol. This is probably, at least in part, due to an increased faecal excretion of fatty acids and bile acid excretion, and possibly also increased excretion of other hydrophobic components, including cholesterol. However, other unidentified mechanisms may also be involved.
High concentrations of total and LDL-cholesterol are strong predictors of the risk of CVD. In contrast, high-HDL concentration has been associated with a protective effect on CVD. However, some doubt remains as to HDL being a marker or an actor, and it seems that the ratio of total:HDL-cholesterol or LDL:HDL-cholesterol is a better risk marker for CVD than HDL concentration in itself(Reference Castelli44, Reference Fernandez and Webb45). It is well accepted that dairy fat increases plasma cholesterol levels, due to its high concentration of SFA, especially palmitic acid(Reference Grundy and Denke27). However, data on the effect of dairy products are conflicting, as discussed in several reviews(Reference Pfeuffer and Schrezenmeir29–Reference Nestel31).
In the present study, we found, as expected, that an increased intake of dairy fat produced an increase in LDL-cholesterol. However, this increase was partly counteracted when dairy Ca intake was increased as well. Similar effects were found on total cholesterol concentration. The increase in dairy fat also produced an increase in HDL-cholesterol concentration. However, this increase was unaffected by the intake of dairy Ca. We have previously shown a beneficial effect of dairy Ca on postprandial lipid metabolism(Reference Lorenzen, Nielsen and Holst46). An inverse association between dairy intake and risk of CVD has recently been reported(Reference Elwood, Pickering and Givens28). Our data suggest that dairy Ca has a beneficial effect on blood lipids, which may, at least partly, explain this inverse association. In contrast to the beneficial effect of dairy products on CVD, Ca supplements (without co-administered vitamin D) have recently been shown to be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction(Reference Bolland, Avenell and Baron47). The authors have suggested that the increased risk is due to an increase in serum Ca produced by the supplements, and that, as it has been shown that Ca from dairy products has a much smaller effect on serum Ca levels than Ca supplements, this could explain why supplementary but not dairy Ca increased the risk of myocardial infarction. We did not measure serum Ca concentrations in the present study. It is recommended that future studies also address this topic.
We found a significantly higher faecal fat excretion during the HC diet periods compared with the LC diet periods. This is in line with our previous studies examining the effect of dairy Ca on faecal fat excretion(Reference Christensen, Lorenzen and Svith23), although the effect found in the present study is somewhat smaller than the effect that we have found previously(Reference Bendsen, Hother and Jensen21, Reference Jacobsen, Lorenzen and Toubro22). Fat absorption is normally a very efficient process, which was observed in the present study, as the quantity of fat excreted during the two LC diet periods was very similar despite a large difference in fat intake (Table 4). It is therefore remarkable that Ca interferes with this process. The interference is most probably due to the formation of insoluble Ca–fatty acid soaps and/or the formation of hydrophobe aggregations with phosphor and bile acids, and with other hydrophobe components including fatty acids(Reference Gacs and Barltrop48–Reference van der and De Vries51). It has been suggested that it is mostly SFA that interferes with Ca(Reference Shahkhalili, Murset and Meirim24–Reference Bhattacharyya, Thera and Anderson26). There are several possible explanations for the somewhat lower effect of the increased dairy Ca intake on faecal fat excretion found in the present study compared with our previous studies. First, it may be due to the source of dairy products used in the studies. In previous studies, we used a mixture of dairy products, mainly cheese and yogurt, and only relatively small amounts of milk, whereas milk alone was used in the present study. The concentration of both Ca and fat is about seven times lower in milk than in cheese. Furthermore, fat is present as small droplets enclosed by a membrane in milk(Reference Hamosh, Bitman and Wood52), whereas it is encapsulated by a protein structure in yogurt and is partly encapsulated in cheese (fat structure depends somewhat on the type of cheese). As part of the Ca will be bound to the milk proteins, especially casein, there may be a higher interaction between fat and Ca in yogurt and cheese than in milk, which may stimulate the formation of Ca–fatty acids in the intestine. Furthermore, it is possible that some Ca–fatty acid soaps are formed during the production of yogurt in particular (due to homogenisation), but also in cheese; although most of these soaps would be dissolved at gastric pH, it is possible that some of them will enter the duodenum as Ca–fatty acid soaps and precipitate. Further studies are needed to examine this. Second, for Ca to interact with fat, it must be present in the duodenum at the same time as fat. In milk, Ca is in an aqueous phase, and in the present study (especially in the LF diet periods), a large part of the fat was in the solid part of the diet. Several studies have shown that the gastric emptying rate is faster for the aqueous phase of a meal than for the solid phase(Reference Meyer, Mayer and Jehn53, Reference Cortot, Phillips and Malagelada54). Thus, if milk and solid food were not mixed properly during ingestion, Ca will presumably have entered the duodenum before the majority of the fat from the diet, which will have resulted in limited possibilities for an interaction between Ca and fat to occur. This emphasises that the time of ingestion and the matrix in which Ca is provided are critical for the effect of Ca on fat digestibility. Third, milk has a high content of lactose, in contrast to cheese, and it has been suggested that lactose may bind phosphate(Reference Gueguen and Pointillart55). As the first step in one of the suggested mechanisms by which Ca may affect fat digestibility is the formation of an amorphous complex with phosphate(Reference van der and De Vries51), it is possible that high lactose content could, at least partly, have inhibited this formation and thereby affected the results. Fourth, it is possible that other bioactive components in cheese and/or yogurt may have acted either independently or synergistically with Ca to affect fat absorption.
Dairy Ca and, to a lesser extent, supplementary Ca have been shown to produce decreases in body weight and body fat in several studies(Reference Caan, Neuhouser and Aragaki12–Reference Zemel, Richards and Mathis16), but not in all studies(Reference Winzenberg, Shaw and Fryer17–Reference Bowen, Noakes and Clifton20), and the size of the effect is uncertain. It is likely that at least part of the effect is due to the decreased fat absorption observed in the present study and other studies(Reference Bendsen, Hother and Jensen21–Reference Christensen, Lorenzen and Svith23). Other suggested mechanisms are beneficial effects on fat metabolism and appetite regulation(Reference Zemel56, Reference Major, Alarie and Doré57).
The cholesterol-lowering effect of dairy Ca observed in the present study can only partly be explained by the observed increased faecal fat excretion. According to Key's equation, a reduction in SFA of 4·7 g/d, corresponding to the difference between HC/HF and LC/HF, would result in a reduction in the total cholesterol of 0·12 mmol/l(Reference Fetcher, Foster and Anderson58), i.e. about a third of the effect observed in the present study. Assuming that SFA only account for a part of the increase in excreted fat, the reduction in cholesterol that can be attributed to the increased fat excretion is probably even lower. In agreement with us, others have found a cholesterol-reducing effect of Ca per se, which is larger than can directly be explained by the increased fat excretion(Reference Shahkhalili, Murset and Meirim24, Reference Denke, Fox and Schulte25). Shahkhalili et al. (Reference Shahkhalili, Murset and Meirim24) showed, in a cross-over study, that supplementation of chocolate with 0·9 wt% Ca, as part of a diet providing 39 % of energy as fat, resulted in a twofold increase in total faecal fat excretion (4·4–8·4 g/d) and a significantly higher decrease in LDL-cholesterol (0·43 (sem 0·39) v. 0·01 (sem 0·25) mmol/l; P < 0·02). This is somewhat similar to the present results. In a cross-over study, Denke et al. (Reference Denke, Fox and Schulte25) compared a control diet (34 % of energy (E%) fat) with a diet with a low content of Ca (410 mg/d) with a fortified version providing a total of 2200 mg Ca, and found that faecal excretion of saturated fat, as related to intake, increased from 6 to 13 %. In addition, they found that LDL-cholesterol was 11 % lower after the high Ca period compared with the low Ca period (3·67 (sem 0·49) v. 4·13 (sem 0·54) mmol/l; P < 0·05)(Reference Denke, Fox and Schulte25). In both studies, increased faecal fat excretion is insufficient to explain the observed effect on LDL-cholesterol. It has therefore been suggested that Ca has an additional cholesterol-lowering effect, which may be due to the interaction with bile acids(Reference Denke, Fox and Schulte25). Increased Ca intake has been found to produce an increased faecal excretion of bile acids in both human(Reference Govers and van der59) and animal(Reference Govers, Termont and Lapré60) studies. Decreased bile acid recycling through the enterohepatic circulation may result in increased cholesterol uptake from the circulation into the liver for the de novo synthesis of bile acids. Malabsorption of bile acids has been shown to produce a decrease in LDL-cholesterol concentration presumably via a stimulation of the hepatic LDL receptor leading to an increased catabolic rate of LDL-cholesterol(Reference Farkkila and Miettinen61). It has also been suggested that faecal fat excretion may be a poor estimate of fat absorption due to the subsequent degradation of unabsorbed fatty acids by the gut bacteria, and that the true effect of Ca may be underestimated by this method(Reference Denke, Fox and Schulte25). Furthermore, it cannot be excluded that other unidentified mechanisms may be involved. Future studies are needed to examine this. Finally, it is possible that other bioactive components in dairy products affect cholesterol concentrations.
The study had some limitations. Although all efforts were exerted to make the four diets as similar as possible, except for Ca and fat content, there were some differences in the compositions of the diets, and we cannot rule out that these differences may have confounded the outcome. Another criticism of the study is the short duration of the intervention period. However, with regard to the cholesterol concentration, the half-life of LDL-cholesterol is approximately 3 d, and therefore 10 d ought to be sufficient for the majority of the effect on LDL-cholesterol to occur(Reference Langer, Strober and Levy62). We cannot exclude the possibility that an adaptation to a long-term high Ca intake may occur, which could reduce the effect on both cholesterol concentration and faecal fat excretion. Further long-term studies are necessary to establish this. Finally, the dropout rate during the study was higher than anticipated, mainly due to the very demanding protocol. As described earlier, our intention was to include enough subjects to provide the power necessary to detect a difference in faecal total fat excretion of at least 4 g/d. One would expect the large dropout rate to affect the power of the study, but a post hoc power calculation showed that we actually had over 90 % power to detect a difference in the faecal fat excretion of minimum 4 g/d. To fully understand the effects of dairy Ca on the lipid profile, larger studies are necessary.
The findings of the present study indicate that dairy Ca may partly counteract the raising effect of dairy fat on total and LDL-cholesterol, without reducing HDL-cholesterol.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the laboratory and kitchen staff, especially Elisabet Steinthorsdottir, Charlotte Kostecki and Yvonne Rasmussen, for their assistance. The study was financed by the Danish Dairy Board, Aarhus, Denmark, the Directorate for Food, Fisheries and Agri Business, the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Copenhagen, Denmark. The study was a part of a PhD project, which was financed by FOOD Graduate School, Arla Foods AmbA and Faculty of Life Science, University of Copenhagen. J. K. L. and A. A. designed the study. J. K. L. was responsible for collection of data and data analysis. Both authors participated in the discussion of the results and preparation of the manuscript. Potential conflicts of interest: A. A. is a member of Global Dairy Platform, Chicago, and receives an honorarium for each board meeting.
