The impact of Calcium supplementation on weight management

This Cochrane review evaluates the effects of calcium supplementation on weight loss in individuals with overweight or obesity. The analysis includes 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving a total of 1,873 participants. The studies, primarily conducted in the USA and Iran, ranged in duration from eight weeks to 24 months and included varying doses of oral calcium supplementation.

The primary outcomes assessed were body weight, health-related quality of life, and adverse events. Secondary outcomes included other anthropometric measures, all-cause mortality, and morbidity. The review found low-certainty evidence suggesting that calcium supplementation has little to no effect on overall body weight compared to placebo (mean difference (MD) -0.15 kg). However, moderate-certainty evidence indicates a probable small reduction in body mass index (BMI) (MD -0.18 kg/m²) and waist circumference (MD -0.51 cm). Adverse events were infrequently reported, with low-certainty evidence suggesting no significant difference in the frequency of adverse events between the intervention and control groups. The review did not find any studies evaluating calcium-fortified foods and noted the need for more high-quality research to further explore the potential benefits and risks of calcium supplementation in this population.

The authors conclude that while calcium supplementation may result in slight reductions in BMI and waist circumference, its effect on overall body weight is negligible. Future studies should investigate the impact of calcium on lean body mass and other aspects of body composition to provide clearer insights.