Childhood dairy intake improved adolescent bone health

New findings add further evidence that childhood dairy consumption is an important component of bone health later in life.

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine analyzed data on 106 children aged 3 to 5 years enrolled in the Framingham Children’s Study during a 12-year period. The researchers used food diaries to calculate the children’s average intake of dairy. After 12 years, the researchers evaluated the primary outcome of bone health, as determined by total body bone mineral content and bone area, and at the arm, leg, trunk, rib, pelvis and spine.

Adolescents aged 15 to 17 years who consumed two or more servings per day of dairy as children had higher levels of bone mineral content and bone area compared with those who consumed fewer servings per day. Average bone mineral content was 175 g higher among those with greater daily dairy intake.

When the researchers evaluated the effects of other foods on bone health, they discovered that adolescents who consumed four or more servings per day of meat and other proteins as children had higher levels of bone mineral content and bone area. – by Katie Kalvaitis

J Pediatr. 2008;doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.05.016.

It is not a surprise that appropriate nourishment is needed to optimize growth and development. I recall an old prospective study in twins whose results demonstrated that twins receiving additional calcium gained more bone but that the gains were not sustained for very long after the study was over. The current article is quite different since the researchers surveyed current, and presumably long-standing, habits.

– Michael Kleerekoper, MD

Endocrine Today Editorial Board member