Why Children May Need Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements
Inadequate dairy food intake explains why many Americans have calcium-deficient diets. This is of particular concern among children and adolescents, since they accumulate peak bone mass during childhood and adolescence. The recommended calcium intake for boys and girls 9 to 18 years of age is 1,300 mg daily. Unfortunately, the mean intake in this age group is only between 700 and 1,000 mg/day.
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% to 10% deficit in peak bone mass may result in a 50% greater lifetime prevalence of hip fractures.
A 2002 New Zealand study found 50 children who avoided cow milk and compared them to 200 milk-drinking children. Researchers measured their dietary calcium intakes with a food-frequency questionnaire. They also measured their body composition and bone mineral density. Researchers concluded that long-term avoidance of cow milk is associated with small stature and poor bone health.
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 7 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 9 who took calcium supplements.
Vitamin D – A Companion to Calcium Absorption
Vitamin D deficiency is also a problem. Vitamin D originates from sunlight exposure. 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 concluded that dietary enrichment or vitamin D supplementation should be considered.
Achieving Recommended Intake
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.
© Advanced Nutritional Research, Inc. March 2005