Dietary calcium from dairy, body composition and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes pursuing an energy restricted diet: AÂ parallel group randomised clinical trial

In a 12-week duration parallel group randomised clinical trial, we evaluated the effect of increasing calcium (Ca) intake on body composition and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Thirty-six subjects with low habitual Ca intake (<600 mg d−1), consumed low-Ca diet (CD group, 800 mg d−1) or high-Ca fat-free milk diet (MD group, 1500 mg d−1). MD group final anthropometric measures (body weight, BMI, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and fat mass) decreased compared with baseline. MD group showed greater decrease in waist circumference compared with CD group. Final fasting glucose decreased in CD group compared with baseline. Both groups reduced glycated haemoglobin. Consumption of high-Ca diet from dairy for 12 weeks was effective in reducing abdominal adiposity, but provided no additional effect on glycaemic control in overweight patients with T2DM.