Dairy versus plant-based drinks to help bone health with strength training
Dairy Versus Plant-based Beverages Combined With Resistance-training for Improving Bone Health
This test will compare drinking dairy milk, a protein-matched pea beverage, or an almond beverage after strength workouts to see which best helps bone health in postmenopausal women and men 50 and older.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Saskatchewan Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) |
| Trial ID | NCT06946316 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
In a double-blind randomized design, 150 postmenopausal women and men aged 50+ will be assigned to drink either 1% chocolate dairy milk, a protein-matched pea beverage, or a low-protein almond beverage after supervised resistance-training sessions three times per week for 12 months. Beverages are chocolate-flavored to maintain blinding, and participants consume 375 ml immediately after each session and another 375 ml one hour later. Outcomes include changes in bone mineral density and bone geometry, body composition (lean and fat mass), muscular strength, and functional performance. The program is fully supervised and standardized across groups to isolate the effect of the beverage consumed with training.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are postmenopausal women and men aged 50 or older who can attend supervised resistance training three times weekly for a year, are not taking medications that affect bone, and have no allergies to the beverage ingredients.
Not a fit: People already doing regular strength training more than twice weekly, those on bone-modifying medications, those unable to safely exercise, or those allergic to ingredients in the beverages are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify a simple, post-workout beverage choice that helps preserve or improve bone density and related strength in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows that milk and protein-rich supplements can support muscle and bone gains with resistance training, but direct comparisons between dairy and newer plant-based beverages (pea versus almond) for bone outcomes are limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Women need to be postmenopausal (no age limit) * Men need to be 50y or older Exclusion Criteria: * Taking medications that might affect bone * Conditions that might preclude participating in a resistance-training program (determined by the "Get Active Questionnaire"). * Planning 6 weeks of travel during the 12 month intervention period * Planning major surgery during the 12 month intervention period * Already strength training greater than 2 days per week for 30 minutes or longer per session * Allergies to ingredients in the beverages
Where this trial is running
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- College of Kinesiology University of Saskatchewan — Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Philip Chilibeck, PhD
- Email: phil.chilibeck@usask.ca
- Phone: 3062303849
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.