Shanghai Institute of Dairy Science Co. Ltd.

The purpose of the trial is to assess the effects of combining regular, generous intakes of high quality protein (primarily from dairy and other animal source proteins) with calorie restriction and low-intensity exercise on muscle quality and muscle adipose infiltration (along with bone mineral density [BMD] and a number of secondary outcomes) in frail, obese, older adults participating in a 6 month intervention. The investigators will compare these effects to those of a traditional control regimen of calorie restriction and low-intensity exercise over the same duration.

To determine if consumption of different diet plans that both are nutritionally-adequate and provide energy to maintain body weight, alters fasting insulin concentrations, shifts other common clinical markers of metabolic disease risk, and affects metabolomic profiles that reflect glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism.

The overall aim of the present research project is to examine whether consumption of high daily amounts of cheese, both high-fat and low-fat, affects risk markers of disease in a study population of men and women with metabolic syndrome risk factors.
It will be explored whether high-fat and/or low-fat cheese consumption can be regarded healthy to consume for at-risk populations (assessed by within-group comparisons from baseline values) and if low-fat or non-fat alternatives to high-fat cheese should continue to be recommended (assessed by between-group comparisons).
In addition, it will be assessed if cheese consumption affects women and men differently as suggested by observational data. The present research project will examine the health effects of cheese as a food product per se and not as a sum of single nutrients, knowing that the single components of cheese cannot be adequately placebo-matched. A relatively high daily intake of high-fat cheese will be compared to a similar intake of low-fat cheese and with a carbohydrate control.