Dairy versus plant-based drinks to help bone health with strength training
Official title: Dairy Versus Plant-based Beverages Combined With Resistance-training for Improving Bone Health
Run by University of Saskatchewan · NCT06946316 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Saskatchewan Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 30, 2025 |
| Main results expected | May 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | August 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | February 23, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06946316 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a 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.
✕Probably 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.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
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.
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 gone: 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.
Who can join: the full rules
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 it's running
-
College of Kinesiology University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Philip Chilibeck, PhD
- Email: phil.chilibeck@usask.ca
- Phone: 3062303849
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.