Calcium, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, and Branched Chain Amino Acids Contribute to the Anti-Obesity Effects of Milk

Dietary calcium exerts an anti-obesity effect, and dairy exerts about twice the activity as supplemental calcium. Milk contains angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and a high concentration of branched chain amino acids (BCAA), both of which may contribute to an anti-obesity effect through effects on lipid metabolism and muscle protein synthesis, respectively. To test this hypothesis, aP2-agouti transgenic mice were maintained for 6 weeks on an obesigenic soy based diet and then randomized into an ad libitum control group and energy restricted (70% of ad lib) diets containing soy protein (0.4% Ca), non-fat dry milk (NFDM; 1.2% Ca) or Ca-depleted NFDM (0.4% Ca) for an additional 6 weeks; the soy diet was provided with or without an ACEi and BCAA supplement and provided at either 0.4 or 1.2% Ca. The NFDM group exhibited ~2-fold greater reduction in body weight and fat than the energy restricted group (p