Substrate Oxidation in Children in Response to High and Low Dairy Intake

The study objective was to conduct a randomized clinical trial comparing enhanced levels of dairy consumption to lower levels of dairy consumption during an energy deficit resulting from 300 kcal of exercise. Participants were 24 sedentary and overweight boys, 13-15 years of age and girls, 12 to 14 years of age, and consuming 1 or fewer servings of dairy and less than 600 mg calcium per day at baseline. Participants were randomly assigned to either higher or lower dairy for 6 days and then crossed over to the opposite treatment subsequent to 2 weeks of wash out. The investigators provided all meals and snacks for the participants during the higher and lower dairy conditions. During the wash out period, participants were instructed to consume their normal diet as assessed at baseline which consisted of 1 or fewer servings of dairy and less than 600 mg calcium. Participants stayed in the calorimeter at baseline, day 7, and day 28 (end of study), after crossover. The calorimeter measured substrate oxidation under the condition of a 300 kcal energy deficit due to exercise.

Inclusion criteria

• Must be overweight
• and 10-13 years old
• currently consuming 1 or fewer servings of dairy
• less than 600 mg calcium per day

Exclusion criteria

• not meeting the above criteria
• must be present for duration of the study