Effect of dairy intake with or without energy restriction on body composition of adults: overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Context: Some studies suggest that consumption of dairy products can aid in weight loss, while others suggest a negative effect or no effect. Objective: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses was conducted to examine the effect of dairy product consumption on changes in body composition. Data sources: PRISMA guidelines were followed to ensure transparent reporting of evidence. The MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to April 2018. Study selection: Six systematic reviews and 47 associated meta-analyses (which included the results of 58 different randomized controlled trials) published in English or Spanish and reporting data on dairy intake and changes in weight, fat mass, lean mass, or waist circumference were included. Data extraction: Two authors independently extracted the data and assessed the risk of bias using the AMSTAR2 tool. Results: Dairy consumption interventions without dietary energy restriction had no significant effects on weight, fat mass, lean mass, or waist circumference. Interventions in energy-restricted settings had significant effects on fat mass and body weight. Conclusions: Increasing total dairy intake without energy restriction in adults does not affect body composition. In the context of an energy-restricted diet, however, increased dairy intake results in lower fat mass and body weight but has no conclusive effects on waist circumference or lean mass. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number CRD42018094672.