The applicants have discovered that consuming milk-based protein, carbohydrate, Vitamin D, calcium, and CLA in combination and in the relative concentrations disclosed herein results in a beneficial synergistic impact on body composition. It is believed that each component is directly or indirectly utilized in metabolic pathways which alter body composition in beneficial ways that would not be realized if one or more of the components were delivered separately and/or in concentrations other than those disclosed herein. Conventional food and beverages do not deliver the combination of these components in concentrations that maximize the synergistic potential. In certain exemplary embodiments, the composition described herein delivers, per 8 ounce serving, about 5 to 20 grams of milk-protein, about 5 to 26 grams of carbohydrate, about 98 to 1000 IU of Vitamin D, about 350-600 mg of calcium, and about 0.5 to 5 grams of conjugated linoleic acid to a consumer.
