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| Why Children may need Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation |
CALCIUM: ANOTHER WEIGHT LOSS STRATEGY CALCIUM AND VIT D SUPPLEMENTATION CALCIUM CUTS BONE LOSS PMS - PROPER MULTIPLE SUPPLEMENTATION CHELATION & MINERAL BIOAVAILABILITY MAGNESIUM: ARE YOU "MARGINALLY" DEFICIENT? MAGNESIUM: THE MEDICINAL MINERAL "TIS THE SEASON TO BE STRESSED" VEGETARIANISM: A 90'S APPROACH TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE SHOULD YOU TAKE EXTRA VITAMINS MACULAR DEGENERATION STUDY SUPPORTS SUPPLEMENTATION WHAT DO HEART DISEASE, STROKES AND ALZHEIMER'S HAVE IN COMMON? 3 B VITAMINS
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The Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals (CSFII 1994-96) reports that the following groups of Americans are not meeting the recommended intake for calcium: 44% boys and 58% of girls ages 6 to 11 64% boys and 87% of girls ages 12 to 19 55% men and 78% of women ages 20+ Milk, yogurt and cheese are the major calcium sources in the U.S. diet. Inadequate dairy food intake explains why many Americans have calcium-deficient diets. This is of particular concern among children and adolescents, since peak bone mass is accumulated during childhood and adolescence. Hip Fractures, Small Stature, Poor Bone Health Inadequate dairy food intake, results in diminished calcium intake, jeopardizing the accrual of maximal peak bone mass. One study found that a 5 % to10 % deficit in peak bone mass may result in a 50 percent greater lifetime prevalence of hip fractures. A 2002 study in New Zealand found 50 children who avoided cow milk and compared them to 200 milk-drinking children. Researchers measured current dietary calcium intakes with a food-frequency questionnaire; and measured body composition and bone mineral density with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Researchers concluded that long-term avoidance of cow milk is associated with small stature and poor bone health. More recently, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recently reported a study conducted on 354 girls, 8 to 13 years old, who averaged 830 milligrams per day of calcium through their diet. The girls were randomly assigned to take either a calcium supplement (1,000 mg) or a placebo daily for seven years. The girls who took the supplements developed bone mass at a faster rate throughout the study. The difference in bone density between the groups was greatest from one year before to one year after the start of menstruation. By late adolescence, the body-wide differences had diminished, but improved bone density remained in the hand, forearm, hip and other places. During the study, 20 girls in the placebo group broke a bone, compared with nine who took calcium supplements. Vitamin D deficiency, a companion to calcium absorption, is also a problem. Vitamin D originates from sunlight exposure - explaining why many populations are vulnerable during winter months. Since foods naturally rich in vitamin D are limited, the U.S. population is dependent on fortified foods (milk and breakfast cereals) and supplements to meet vitamin D requirements. A 2002 study found that pubertal girls with vitamin D deficiency are at risk of not reaching maximum peak bone mass, particularly at the lumbar spine. Researchers in that study concluded that dietary enrichment or vitamin D supplementation should be considered. Achieving Recommended Intake The gap between the recommended calcium intakes and typical intakes of children, especially those 9 to 18 years of age, is substantial. Mean intakes in this age group are between 700 and 1,000 mg/day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking several steps to close the gap. Knowledge of dietary calcium sources is a first step toward increasing intake. Second, children can consume products fortified with calcium (i.e., orange juice). Finally, for children and adolescents who cannot or will not consume adequate amounts of calcium from any dietary sources, the Academy recommends mineral supplementation. |
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