Calorie restriction and bone health in young, overweight individuals
Leanne M Redman, Jennifer Rood, Stephen D Anton, Catherine Champagne, Steven R Smith, Eric Ravussin, Pennington Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) Research Team, Don Williamson, D Enette Larson-Meyer, Frank Greenway, Corby Martin, Tuong Nguyen, Lilian de Jonge, Marlene Most, Xiaobing Fang, Brenda Dahmer, Andy Deutsch, Paula Geiselman, Jennifer Howard, Jana Ihrig, Michael Lefevre, Darlene Marquis, Connie Murla, Aimee Stewart, Vanessa Tarver, Leanne M Redman, Jennifer Rood, Stephen D Anton, Catherine Champagne, Steven R Smith, Eric Ravussin, Pennington Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) Research Team, Don Williamson, D Enette Larson-Meyer, Frank Greenway, Corby Martin, Tuong Nguyen, Lilian de Jonge, Marlene Most, Xiaobing Fang, Brenda Dahmer, Andy Deutsch, Paula Geiselman, Jennifer Howard, Jana Ihrig, Michael Lefevre, Darlene Marquis, Connie Murla, Aimee Stewart, Vanessa Tarver
Abstract
Background: Calorie restriction (CR) is promoted to increase longevity, yet this regimen could lead to bone loss and fracture and therefore affect quality of life.
Methods: Forty-six individuals were randomized to 4 groups for 6 months: (1) healthy diet (control group); (2) 25% CR from baseline energy requirements (CR group); (3) 25% energy deficit by a combination of CR and increased aerobic exercise (CR + EX group); and (4) low-calorie diet (890 kcal/d; goal, 15% weight loss) followed by weight maintenance (LCD group). Bone mineral density (total body and hip by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) and serum bone markers (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen, and cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen) were measured at baseline and after 6 months.
Results: Mean +/- SE body weight was reduced by -1.0% +/- 1.1% (control), -10.4% +/- 0.9% (CR), -10.0% +/- 0.8% (CR + EX), and -13.9% +/- 0.7% (LCD). Compared with the control group, none of the groups showed any change in bone mineral density for total body or hip. Bone resorption by serum cross-linked C-telopeptide of type I collagen was increased in all 3 intervention groups, with the largest change observed in the LCD group (CR, 23% +/- 10%; CR + EX, 22% +/- 9%; and LCD, 74% +/- 16% vs control, 4% +/- 10%). Serum levels of cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen were also increased in the LCD group. With regard to bone formation, bone alkaline phosphatase levels were decreased in the CR group (-23% +/- 10%) but were unchanged in the CR + EX, LCD, and control groups.
Conclusions: Moderate CR, with or without exercise, that preserves calcium intake for 6 months leads to large changes in body composition without significant bone loss in young adults. Longer studies with assessments of bone architecture are needed to confirm that CR nutrient-dense diets have no deleterious effect on bone health.
Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00099151.
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Source: PubMed