WEIGHT LOSS & PROTEIN NEED
DURING WEIGHT LOSS, MORE DAIRY PROTEIN AND CALCIUM
HELPS STRENGTHEN WOMEN’S BONES
Study shows exercise combined with more dairy protein and calcium strengthens women’s
bones during weight loss
Young women hoping to lose weight with typical dieting may unknowingly wreak havoc on
their bones in a way that could affect them for a lifetime. But new research shows eating
more dairy foods rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin D can keep bones stronger while
shedding pounds and inches.
Researchers from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario found that young women on a
weight-loss plan who ate higher amounts of dairy-based protein (whey and casein), calcium,
and vitamin D improved markers of bone turnover.
“Our data provide a good rationale to recommend consumption of dairy foods to aid in high
quality weight loss, which we define as loss of fat as opposed to muscle, and the promotion
of bone health in young women who are at the age when achieving and maintaining peak
bone mass is of great importance,” said Stuart Phillips, PhD, of McMaster University in
Hamilton, Ontario and senior author of the study, in a press release.
The controlled trial, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism,
randomized 90 women (ages 19 to 45) considered overweight or obese to one of three
groups: high-protein and high-dairy, adequate protein and medium dairy, and adequate
protein and low dairy. For 16 weeks, the women consumed a diet restricted in calories
(about 500 calories less than needed to maintain their weight) and took part in daily
exercise either in the form of aerobic or resistance training.
At the end of the trial, the women consuming higher amounts of dairy foods had greater
increases in markers of bone formation (including adiponectin), greater reduction markers of
bone degradation (including leptin), greater increases in levels of circulating vitamin D, and
greater decreases levels of circulating parathyroid hormone (associated with bone
degradation when present in greater concentrations).
“To avoid deleterious consequences to their bone health, women who are attempting weight
loss through dieting should practice consumption of more protein from dairy sources,”
Phillips said.
IsaLean Shake
How can women make the most of the findings in this study? Isagenix IsaLean Shake is
available as a handy, nutritious meal replacement containing high amounts of protein from
dairy, as whey and casein, along with calcium and vitamin D. The shake is also low in
lactose (milk sugar) and contains the digestive enzyme lactase for its easy digestion.
Enjoying one or two servings of IsaLean Shake daily, in combination with daily exercise,
can promote healthy weight loss while strengthening muscles and bones.
Reference: Josse AR, Atkinson SA, Tarnopolsky MA, Phillips SM. Diets Higher in Dairy
Foods and Dietary Protein Support Bone Health during Diet- and Exercise-Induced Weight
Loss in Overweight and Obese Premenopausal Women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011.
doi: 10.1210/jc.2011-2165
