The Effect of Dairy Intake on Body Weight and Composition and Metabolic Health in Adolescents and Seniors

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO · Mar 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how eating dairy foods like milk, yogurt, and cheese can affect body weight and overall health in two groups of people: teenagers aged 14-17 who are overweight or at risk for diabetes, and older adults aged 60-75. Over six months, participants will either increase their dairy intake to three servings a day or continue with their usual diet, which includes less than one serving of dairy. The goal is to see how these dietary changes might improve health and prevent obesity.

To participate, you must be within the specified age ranges and meet certain health criteria, like having a specific body mass index (BMI) or waist size. If you join, you’ll meet with a dietitian every two weeks to track your food intake and attend three visits for health assessments, which will include measuring your weight, blood pressure, and other health markers. You will need to fast before these visits and avoid vigorous exercise and alcohol for a short time beforehand. Participants will be compensated for their time and travel expenses. This study could help us learn more about the benefits of dairy for health in both adolescents and seniors.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age 14-17 years old (adolescents) or 60-75 years old (seniors)
• • BMI z-score \>+1SD, \<+2SD (adolescents) or BMI 25-30 kg/m2 (seniors)
• • Waist circumference \> 88 cm for women and \> 102 cm for men (seniors)
• • FBG 5.6-6.9 mmol/L (prediabetes)
• • Consumes ≤1 serving of dairy per day
• • Willing to maintain habitual diet, physical activity, and body weight throughout the study.
• • Willing to maintain current dietary supplement use throughout the study. On the first day, the participants agree not to take any dietary supplements until the completion of the study.
• • Willing to abstain from alcohol consumption for 24 hours prior to all test visits.
• • Willing to avoid vigorous physical activity for 24 hours prior to all test visits.
• • Understands the study procedures and is willing to provide informed consent by parent/guardian and assent by participant to participate in the study and authorization to release relevant protected health information to the study investigator.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Fasting BG ≥ 7mmol/L
• • Blood pressure systolic ≥ 130mmHg or diastolic ≥ 80mmHg (adolescents) or systolic ≥ 160 mmHg or diastolic pressure ≥ 100 mmHg
• • Smoking (tobacco and/or cannabis product use in the last 6 months)
• • Thyroid problems
• • History of CVDs, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, short bowel syndrome, any malabsorption syndrome, pancreatitis, gallbladder, or biliary disease.
• • Presence of gastrointestinal disorder or surgeries within the past year.
• • Use of the prescription or non-prescription drugs, herbal or nutritional supplements known to affect the outcome of the study as per the investigator's judgment (including prebiotics and probiotics).
• • History of childhood obesity
• • Known to be pregnant, lactating, or not postmenopausal for at least a year and/or is taking hormonal treatments
• • Unwillingness or inability to comply with the experimental procedures
• • Known intolerance, sensitivity, or allergy to dairy, gluten, or any other study treatments.
• • Consumption of protein powders/supplements
• • Extreme dietary habits (e.g., Atkins diet, very high-protein diets, etc.)
• • Weight gain or loss of \>10 lbs. in the previous three months.
• • Excessive alcohol intake (more than 2 drinks per day or 9 per week)
• • Restrained eating, identified by a score of ≥11 on the Eating Habits Questionnaire