Greek Yogurt Consumption for Bone Development in Athletes

Overseen By Madison Bell, MSc

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Brock University

Disqualifiers: Injury, Dairy allergy, Lactose intolerance, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether increased consumption of Greek yogurt can strengthen bones in young athletes. Researchers compare Greek yogurt to whey protein to determine if yogurt offers additional benefits, such as reducing inflammation. The focus is on competitive youth athletes without injuries who can participate in practices. Participants will consume Greek yogurt or whey protein twice daily for 16 weeks. The goal is to assess if dairy can improve bone health more effectively than protein supplements alone. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to innovative research that could enhance athletic performance and bone health.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that Greek yogurt is generally safe to eat. It is rich in nutrients like calcium and vitamins, which help maintain strong bones and support overall growth. Studies suggest that regular yogurt consumption can improve bone health in adults, potentially benefiting young athletes by strengthening their bones.

Whey protein is also popular but requires some caution. Some reports indicate that whey protein might affect the liver and kidneys or cause acne in certain individuals. However, for most athletes, whey protein is considered safe and can enhance sports performance and recovery.

Both Greek yogurt and whey protein are usually well-tolerated, but it is important to follow recommended amounts and be aware of any personal allergies or intolerances. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about increasing Greek yogurt consumption for bone development in athletes because it offers a tasty and convenient way to boost calcium and protein intake, which are vital for bone health. Unlike traditional supplements that often come in pill or powder form, Greek yogurt provides a natural, whole-food option. Additionally, athletes can enjoy the flexibility of choosing their preferred flavors, making it a more enjoyable and sustainable part of their daily routine. This approach not only targets bone health but also supports overall nutrition and energy levels in a practical way.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for bone development in athletes?

This trial will compare the effects of increased Greek yogurt consumption with whey protein supplementation on bone development in athletes. Research has shown that Greek yogurt benefits bone health. In one study with young men, those who consumed Greek yogurt and exercised experienced healthier bone growth. Other studies have found similar results, indicating more bone building and less bone breakdown. Participants in the Greek yogurt intervention group will include Greek yogurt in their regimen. Conversely, whey protein is known to aid muscle recovery and improve endurance in athletes. Participants in the whey protein intervention group will follow a similar consumption schedule. However, whey protein may not benefit bone health as much as Greek yogurt. While whey protein does not seem to enhance bone strength to the same extent, it can still help maintain muscles. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Panagiota Klentrou, PhD

Principal Investigator

Brock University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young competitive athletes who are looking to improve their bone health. Participants should be actively engaged in sports and not have any allergies to dairy, lactose intolerance, or injuries that prevent them from practicing.

Inclusion Criteria

Competitive youth or varsity athletes

Exclusion Criteria

Allergy to dairy foods/dairy protein

I have an injury.

I am diagnosed with lactose intolerance.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Control Condition

Participants follow their typical diet and training protocols while completing food records for baseline assessment

8 weeks

Weekly virtual check-ins

Intervention Condition

Participants consume Greek yogurt or whey protein while maintaining their habitual diet and training

16 weeks

Weekly virtual check-ins and dietary logging

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in bone metabolism and inflammation markers

4 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Increased Greek Yogurt Consumption

Trial Overview

The study is testing if eating more Greek yogurt can help with bone development and reduce inflammation in youth and young adult athletes. It compares the effects of Greek yogurt consumption to whey protein supplementation during athletic training.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Whey protein intervention group (WP) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the WP group will follow a similar consumption schedule but will be instructed by the RD to consume two servings/day (preferably morning and night) each of 2/3 of a scoop of commercially available WP powder (flavoured, \~29 g, 120 calories, 19 g protein, 112.5 g calcium; e.g., PURE Whey Protein, Walmart) for a total of 16 weeks. The WP scoop will be dissolved in water (e.g., 1 g of WP isolate to 10 mL of water, as recommended by the manufacturer). This protein dose is similar to the previous dose in young swimmers and comparable to other studies in adults. Athletes will be provided with appropriately marked scoops (corresponding to 2/3 of the manufacturer scoop) to measure their single servings. Each athlete will receive two large containers (2 x 907 g = 1814 g per week) at the beginning of each week, which will be enough to cover the two daily servings of 29 g (i.e., 58 g/day).

Group II: Greek yogurt intervention group (GY) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the GY group will be instructed by a registered dietician to consume 2 servings/day (preferably morning and night) of 175 g GY (0% MF, flavoured, 130 calories, 17 g protein, 225 g calcium; e.g., OIKOS High Protein GY) for a total of 16 weeks. For their convenience, the athletes will be provided with appropriate scoops to measure out 175 g of GY per serving of the larger 650 g commercially available, pre-packaged containers. Although it is recommended to consume the two servings morning and night, to increase ecological validity and strengthen the feasibility of the intervention, the timing of the servings will be flexible to facilitate the training and competition routines. For the same reasons, the athletes will be able to choose the flavour of their GY.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Brock University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

41

Recruited

6,500+

York University

Collaborator

Trials

64

Recruited

521,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A 10-week study involving 140 obese participants found that yogurt fortified with vitamin D significantly increased vitamin D levels compared to plain yogurt and probiotic yogurt, indicating that vitamin D-fortified yogurt is an effective option for addressing vitamin D deficiency.

The addition of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis) did not enhance the vitamin D levels beyond what was achieved with vitamin D-fortified yogurt alone, suggesting that probiotics may not be necessary for improving vitamin D status.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of yogurt co-fortified with probiotic and vitamin D on lipid profile, anthropometric indices and serum 25-hydroxi vitamin D in obese adult: A Double-Blind Randomized- Controlled Trial. Hajipoor, S., Hekmatdoost, A., Rezaei, M., et al.[2021]

In a study of 4310 older adults, higher yogurt intake was linked to significant increases in bone mineral density (BMD) and better physical function, particularly in women, where BMD at the hip and femoral neck was 3.1-3.9% higher in those with the highest yogurt consumption.

Yogurt intake was associated with a reduced risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis, with females showing a 31% lower risk of osteopenia and a 39% lower risk of osteoporosis, while males had a 52% lower risk of osteoporosis, suggesting yogurt could be an effective dietary strategy for improving bone health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Greater yogurt consumption is associated with increased bone mineral density and physical function in older adults. Laird, E., Molloy, AM., McNulty, H., et al.[2018]

Fermented milk products like yogurt and soft cheese are rich in calcium, phosphorus, and protein, which are essential for bone growth and reducing bone loss.

These products may also contain prebiotics and probiotics that enhance calcium absorption and support bone metabolism, potentially leading to better bone health and increased compliance with dietary recommendations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Fermented Milk Products on Bone. Rizzoli, R., Biver, E.[2019]

In a study involving 13 female adolescent soccer players, Greek yogurt consumption during 5 days of intense training did not show significant effects on key bone biomarkers compared to a carbohydrate placebo.

While there was a notable decrease in undercarboxylated osteocalcin (unOC) after training in the Greek yogurt condition, overall, the findings suggest that high-impact training did not negatively affect bone metabolism, and Greek yogurt did not provide additional benefits over the carbohydrate control.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Circulating Levels of Bone Markers after Short-Term Intense Training with Increased Dairy Consumption in Adolescent Female Athletes. Klentrou, P., McKee, K., McKinlay, BJ., et al.[2023]

Vitamin D-fortified yogurt significantly increases serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels by an average of 31.00 nmol/L compared to plain yogurt, based on a meta-analysis of 9 randomized controlled trials involving 665 participants over 8 to 16 weeks.

In addition to boosting vitamin D levels, fortified yogurt also reduces parathyroid hormone levels and improves various health markers, including body weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, and lipid profiles, making it a beneficial option for individuals with metabolic concerns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Is vitamin D-fortified yogurt a value-added strategy for improving human health? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Gasparri, C., Perna, S., Spadaccini, D., et al.[2019]

Fortifying yogurt with vitamin D and calcium significantly increased serum vitamin D levels and decreased parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in older women, indicating improved bone health over 84 days compared to non-fortified yogurt.

The fortified yogurt also led to a significant reduction in bone resorption markers, suggesting that it may help prevent bone loss and reduce the risk of fractures in aged women at risk for osteoporosis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fortification of Yogurts with Vitamin D and Calcium Enhances the Inhibition of Serum Parathyroid Hormone and Bone Resorption Markers: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial in Women over 60 Living in a Community Dwelling Home. Bonjour, JP., Benoit, V., Atkin, S., et al.[2022]

In a 12-week study with 30 untrained university-aged males, Greek yogurt (GY) consumption alongside a resistance training program significantly increased bone formation markers (P1NP) compared to a placebo, indicating its potential to enhance bone health.

GY also appeared to reduce bone resorption (CTX) after one week of training, suggesting that it may help maintain a healthier balance in bone turnover during exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Consumption of Greek yogurt during 12 weeks of high-impact loading exercise increases bone formation in young, adult males - a secondary analysis from a randomized trial. Bridge, AD., Brown, J., Snider, H., et al.[2020]

In a study of 46 young female endurance swimmers, those who consumed probiotic yogurt daily for 8 weeks experienced fewer respiratory infections and shorter durations of symptoms like dyspnea and ear pain compared to those who consumed regular yogurt.

While the improvement in swimming performance (measured by 400-m free swimming records) was not statistically significant, the reduction in upper respiratory tract infections suggests that probiotic yogurt may enhance overall health and potentially improve VO2max in athletes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of probiotic yogurt on performance, respiratory and digestive systems of young adult female endurance swimmers: a randomized controlled trial. Salarkia, N., Ghadamli, L., Zaeri, F., et al.[2022]

A study of 114 female collegiate athletes revealed that while they had a moderate understanding of osteoporosis (mean score of 7.1 out of 10), their dietary calcium knowledge and attitudes towards osteoporosis were less favorable, indicating a gap in effective health education.

Despite an average dairy intake of 2.4 servings per day, only 31% met the recommended intake of 3 or more servings, and there was no correlation between their knowledge of osteoporosis and their actual dairy consumption, suggesting that other factors may influence dietary habits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Osteoporosis knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of female collegiate athletes. Turner, LW., Bass, MA.[2022]

Collegiate male athletes consumed significantly more calcium (1,354 mg/day) than female athletes (898 mg/day), with female cross-country runners having the lowest intake at 605 mg/day, highlighting a gender disparity in calcium consumption.

Most athletes obtained their calcium primarily from dairy products and mixed dishes, but none of the groups used supplements to compensate for low dairy intake, indicating a potential risk for inadequate calcium levels, especially among female athletes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Food sources of calcium in a sample of African-American an Euro-American collegiate athletes. Leachman Slawson, D., McClanahan, BS., Clemens, LH., et al.[2022]

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