The effect of dairy product intake during an energyrestricted diet on body composition and other biochemical markers related to obesity in adults who are overweight or obese: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: The global increase in the prevalence of obesity and associated health problems means that strategies are required to help people better manage their weight. Energy restriction is the first line of approach to treating and managing obesity. However, recent studies have reported positive results on weight and body composition when dairy products are part of the energy-restricted diet with and without exercise and health education. Objectives: To critically evaluate the evidence available for the effectiveness of dairy products on body composition and other biochemical markers related to obesity in adults with overweight/obesity who are 18-65 years and following an energy-restricted diet. Method: A comprehensive search of the literature on different electronic databases including PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect and Wiley online library (Cochrane Library‬) was carried out for literature published between 2007 and 2017 to obtain English language articles on relevant randomized control trials investigating the effects of dairy products in conjunction with an energy-restricted diet to treat or manage overweight conditions and obesity. Results: Ten randomized control trials used dairy products in servings ranging from 1 to 7 per day with energy-restricted diet (-200 to 800 kcal/day) for a duration of 8 to 16 weeks found reduction in body composition (weight, BMI, waist circumference and body fat) and other biochemical markers related to obesity (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides and glucose). Five of the ten studies combined dairy products intake with exercise and/or health education intervention. The majority of studies did not see adverse effects with a high serving of dairy products, amount of energy ‎deficit or exercise in the long-term. Conclusion: The consumption of ≥2 servings of dairy products during an energy-restricted diet (≥-500 kcal/day) significantly reduces body composition as well as other biochemical markers related to obesity with few adverse effects. Combining physical activity and nutrition education with a high-calcium dairy, high protein energy-restricted diet results in greater weight loss. Although the short-term effects look promising, further rigorous research to evaluate the effects of dairy products intervention is recommended.