An eight-week randomized intervention study on Korean adults to evaluate the effect of milk intake on obesity

The anti-obesity effect of milk intake has been suggested via a variety of designed studies, but findings of obesity interventions for Korean adults are scarcely reported. The study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effect of cow milk in Korean adults with an 8-wk randomized intervention. A total of 121 adults overweight aged 19 to 60 yr old were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 groups: milk or control. During the intervention, both groups were encouraged 500 kcal of restriction a day, and the milk group consumed 200 mL of milk twice a day; the same energy intake as the control group, including milk intake, was recommended for 8 wk. We detected no significant differences in body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) between the milk and control groups during the 8-wk intervention, although the changes in BW and BMI of those within the milk group were significant. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and serum calcium levels increased significantly in the milk group compared with the control group. Calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and riboflavin intakes increased significantly, when compared with the control. In conclusion, 8-wk milk consumption had no effect on weight loss and BMI change but improved some blood biomarkers and nutrient intake in Korean adults who were overweight. To evaluate the effect of milk on obesity reduction, well-designed, long-term, and large-scale studies are needed.