Dairy vs Plant-based Beverages for Improving Bone Health During Exercise

February 19, 2026 updated by: Phil Chilibeck, University of Saskatchewan

Dairy Versus Plant-based Beverages Combined With Resistance-training for Improving Bone Health

This study will evaluate the effects of consuming dairy milk versus two plant-based beverages (pea-based, and almond-based) after resistance training sessions (3 times per week for 12 months) on bone properties (bone mineral density, bone geometry), body composition, strength, and functional performance in post-menopausal women and men 50y and older.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The purpose of the study is to compare consumption of dairy milk (1% chocolate milk) to plant-based beverages (protein-matched pea beverage and low-protein almond beverage) after resistance-training sessions on bone mineral density, bone geometric properties, lean tissue and fat mass, muscular strength, and functional performance. One-hundred and fifty postmenopausal women and men 50y or older will be randomized to one of three groups: 1) Dairy milk; 2) pea-beverage; 3) almond beverage. The study will be double-blind, accomplished by chocolate flavoring of each beverage. Participants will do supervised strength-training sessions three times per week for 12 months. After each strength-training session, participants will consume 375 ml of their beverage and then consume 375 ml of their beverage again one hour later.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
150

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Saskatchewan
      • Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7K 2X2
        • Recruiting
        • College of Kinesiology University of Saskatchewan
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Women need to be postmenopausal (no age limit)
  • Men need to be 50y or older

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Taking medications that might affect bone
  • Conditions that might preclude participating in a resistance-training program (determined by the "Get Active Questionnaire").
  • Planning 6 weeks of travel during the 12 month intervention period
  • Planning major surgery during the 12 month intervention period
  • Already strength training greater than 2 days per week for 30 minutes or longer per session
  • Allergies to ingredients in the beverages

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: 1% chocolate milk
375 ml of 1% chocolate milk consumed immediately after resistance training sessions + 375 ml of chocolate milk consumed 1 hour after resistance training sessions
Dietary supplement: Nutritional supplementation during a 12 month resistance training program
1% chocolate milk
Dietary supplement: Nutritional supplementation during a 12 month resistance training program
pea-based beverage
Dietary supplement: Nutritional supplementation during a 12 month resistance training program
almond-based beverage
Experimental: Pea-based beverage
375 ml of pea beverage consumed immediately after resistance training sessions + 375 ml of pea beverage consumed 1 hour after resistance training sessions
Dietary supplement: Nutritional supplementation during a 12 month resistance training program
1% chocolate milk
Dietary supplement: Nutritional supplementation during a 12 month resistance training program
pea-based beverage
Dietary supplement: Nutritional supplementation during a 12 month resistance training program
almond-based beverage
Placebo Comparator: Almond beverage
375 ml of almond beverage consumed immediately after resistance training sessions + 375 ml of almond beverage consumed 1 hour after resistance training sessions
Dietary supplement: Nutritional supplementation during a 12 month resistance training program
1% chocolate milk
Dietary supplement: Nutritional supplementation during a 12 month resistance training program
pea-based beverage
Dietary supplement: Nutritional supplementation during a 12 month resistance training program
almond-based beverage

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in section modulus at the hip (cm to the power of 3)
Time Frame: 12 months
Section modulus measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in lumbar spine bone mineral density (g/cm-squared)
Time Frame: 12 months
Lumbar spine bone mineral density measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
12 months
Change in hip bone mineral density (g/cm-squared)
Time Frame: 12 months
Hip bone mineral density measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
12 months
Change in cross-sectional area at the hip (cm-squared)
Time Frame: 12 months
Cross-sectional area measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
12 months
Change in cortical thickness at the hip (cm)
Time Frame: 12 months
Cortical thickness measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
12 months
Change in buckling ratio at the hip (no units)
Time Frame: 12 months
Buckling ratio measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
12 months
Change in bench press strength (kg)
Time Frame: 6 and 12 months
Bench press strength determine from 1-repetition maximum
6 and 12 months
Change in knee extension strength (kg)
Time Frame: 6 and 12 months
Knee extension strength determined from 1-repetition maxium
6 and 12 months
Change in lean tissue mass (kg)
Time Frame: 12 months
Lean tissue mass measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
12 months
Change in fat mass (kg)
Time Frame: 12 months
Fat mass measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
12 months
change in 30 second sit to stand (number of repetitions)
Time Frame: 6 and 12 months
Maximal number of times sitting and standing in 30 seconds
6 and 12 months
Change in walking speed (m/s)
Time Frame: 6 and 12 months
walking speed measured over 10 m
6 and 12 months
Change in timed up and go performance (s)
Time Frame: 6 and 12 months
Time for standing from a chair, walking 6 meters and sitting back down
6 and 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Saskatchewan

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 30, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
May 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 19, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 19, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 27, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 19, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 361218

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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