Actively Recruiting
The Effect of Dairy Intake on Body Weight and Composition and Metabolic Health in Adolescents and Seniors
Led by University of Toronto · Updated on 2026-03-05
240
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
104 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this study is to examine how regular dairy intake affects body weight, body composition, and metabolic health in overweight and obese adolescents (ages 15-18) and older adults (ages 60-80) over six months. We are inviting eligible individuals to participate in this study at the Nutrition Intervention Center, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto. Participants will be randomly divided into two groups. The intervention (dairy) group will consume three servings of dairy per day (milk, yogurt, and cheese) before breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The control (low-dairy) group will continue their usual diet, keeping dairy intake to less than one serving per day. Participants will have biweekly sessions with a registered dietitian to be guided to follow Canada's Food Guide, monitor their dietary intake and ensure compliance with their assigned group. In addition, they will visit the Nutrition Intervention Center at weeks 0, 12, and 24 for anthropometric and body composition assessments (weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, lean mass, and fat mass), resting metabolic rate, (gait speed, grip strength, and chair stand test just for older adults) and blood markers (fasting blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide, HbA1c, lipid profiles, and inflammatory markers). Each visit will take approximately 4 hours. Before each visit, the participants will be asked to fast overnight for 12 hours, maintain their usual diet and sleep patterns, and avoid exercise and alcohol the day before. The participants will be compensated for their time and travel expenses. Our secondary objective is to compare the effects of dairy and plant-based alternative products on blood sugar and appetite regulation in adolescents and older adults. Participants will be asked to come to the Nutrition Intervention Center on 3 separate occasions: once for an in-person screening lasting approximately 30 min and 2 times for study visits lasting approximately 2.5 hrs each. The entire study will take at least 2 weeks to complete. You will be asked to fast for 12 hrs (overnight) before each study visit. You will also be instructed to maintain the same dietary and sleep patterns and refrain from exercise and alcohol consumption on the days before the study visits. During these study visits, you will be asked to consume either a dairy or a plant-based alternative product as well as a pizza meal. You will periodically fill out questionnaires rating your feelings and perceptions, and provide blood samples through finger pricks and intravenously through your forearm to measure blood sugar, insulin, hormones, and amino acids. You will be compensated for your time and travel expenses.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
The Effect of Dairy Intake on Body Weight and Composition and Metabolic Health in Adolescents and Seniors
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age 15-18 years old (adolescents) or 60-80 years old (seniors)
- BMI z-score between +1 and +2 standard deviations for adolescents or BMI 25-34.9 kg/m2 for seniors
- Waist circumference over 80 cm for women and over 94 cm for men (seniors)
- Fasting blood glucose between 5.6 and 6.9 mmol/L (prediabetes)
- Willing to follow Canada's Food Guide
- Willing to maintain current dietary supplement use throughout the study
- Willing to abstain from alcohol consumption for 24 hours before all test visits
- Willing to avoid vigorous physical activity for 24 hours before all test visits
- Understands study procedures and provides informed consent (parent/guardian consent and participant assent for adolescents)
You will not qualify if you...
- Fasting blood glucose equal to or above 7 mmol/L
- Blood pressure systolic equal to or above 130 mmHg or diastolic equal to or above 80 mmHg for adolescents; systolic equal to or above 140 mmHg or diastolic equal to or above 90 mmHg for seniors
- Smoking tobacco or cannabis products in the last 6 months
- Thyroid problems
- History of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, short bowel syndrome, malabsorption syndromes, pancreatitis, gallbladder or biliary disease
- Gastrointestinal disorders or surgeries within the past year
- Use of drugs or supplements affecting study outcomes (including prebiotics and probiotics)
- Pregnancy, lactation, not postmenopausal for at least one year, or taking hormonal treatments
- Unwilling or unable to comply with study procedures
- Known allergy or sensitivity to dairy, gluten, or study treatments
- Use of protein powders or supplements
- Extreme dietary habits (e.g., Atkins, very high-protein diets)
- Weight gain or loss over 5% in the previous three months
- Excessive alcohol intake (more than 2 drinks per day or 9 per week)
- Restrained eating with score of 11 or higher on Eating Habits Questionnaire
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Department of Nutritional Sciences
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5S 1A8
Actively Recruiting
2
Nutrition Intervention Center
Toronto, Canada, M5S 3H2
Not Yet Recruiting
Research Team
S
Shekoufeh Salamat, Ph.D.
CONTACT
C
Corrina Zhou, MSc
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
8
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