A lighter side of calcium: role of calcium and dairy foods in body weight.

This review explains the physiological involvement of calcium in overweight/obesity (as it is understood now) and presents some of the studies where this role has been documented, as well as those reporting no effect of Ca on body weight/composition. Based on much of the presently reported data, Ca and even more so dairy foods, might help in weight reduction/maintenance when combined with energy-restricted diet. The scientific community is in agreement that there is a pressing need for large clinical trials to assess the effect of Ca on weight reduction and to investigate whether weight loss could be achieved easier with Ca supplements or dairy products. It has yet to be learned what amount of Ca would be optimal for those purposes and what influence, if any, an individual's current Ca intake and existing weight might play. Additionally, it is still hard to pinpoint which component(s) in dairy foods have a role in weight reduction and whether they act alone or in synergism with Ca. Considering the overwhelming prevalence of overweight/obesity and consequences to population health and economic burden it entails, it is of crucial importance to develop strategies to curtail the problem of obesity from all fronts and the one involving Ca seems quite promising. However, more research in this area is necessary.