University of Tasmania
Browse

Calcium supplements in healthy children do not affect weight gain, height, or body composition

Download (287.62 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 19:56 authored by Tania WinzenbergTania Winzenberg, Shaw, K, Fryer, JL, Graeme JonesGraeme Jones
Objective: Calcium intake is a potential factor influencing weight gain and may reduce body weight, but the evidence for this in children is conflicting. The aim of this study was to use data from randomized controlled trials to determine whether calcium supplementation in healthy children affects weight or body composition. Research Methods and Procedures: This study is a systematic review. We identified potential studies by searching the following electronic bibliographic databases: CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, MANTIS, ISI Web of Science, Food Science and Technology Abstracts, and Human Nutrition up until April 1, 2005 and hand-searched relevant conference abstracts. Studies were included if they were placebo-controlled randomized controlled trials of calcium supplementation, with at least 3 months of supplementation, in healthy children and with outcome measures including weight. Meta-analyses were performed using fixed effects models and weighted mean differences for weight and height and standardized mean differences (SMDs) for body composition measures. Results: There were no statistically significant effects of calcium supplementation on weight [+0.14 kg; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.28, +0.57 kg], height (+0.22 cm; 95% CI, -0.30, +0.74 cm), body fat (SMD, +0.04; 95% CI, -0.08, +0.15), or lean mass (SMD, +0.14; 95% CI, -0.03, +0.31). Discussion: There is no evidence to support the use of calcium supplementation as a public health intervention to reduce weight gain or body fat in healthy children. Although our results do not rule out an effect of dietary supplementation with dairy products on weight gain or body composition, there is little evidence to support this hypothesis. Copyright © 2007 NAASO.

History

Publication title

Obesity

Volume

15

Issue

7

Pagination

1789-1798

ISSN

1930-7381

Department/School

Menzies Institute for Medical Research

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Place of publication

USA

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Neonatal and child health

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC