What is it about?
Although dairy products provide more bone-beneficial nutrients, such as protein, Ca, Mg, K, Zn and P per unit energy than any other typical food found in the adult diet, the relevance of dairy products for the prevention of osteoporotic fractures is still a matter of scientific debate due to the outcome of a few single observational studies. This review will address the most robust point estimate on the role of dairy products, as reported in systematic reviews and meta-analyses on randomised controlled trials in the case of bone mineralisation or prospective studies in the case of fracture risk.
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Why is it important?
Our finding showed that (Ca from) dairy products with or without vitamin D positively influences bone mineralisation in children with a low baseline Ca intake, and also in adults. The higher total BMC due to dairy is comparable to the increase in BMC over 2 years surrounding the peak in bone accretion found in boys and girls, due to physical activity. In adults, a daily intake of 200–250 ml of milk is associated with a reduction in fracture risk of 5% or higher.
Perspectives
A 2% increase in BMC results in lower fracture risk during childhood and a higher peak bone mass. The latter is estimated to reduce fracture risk at adult life with ~10%. So by eating dairy both during childhood and during adult life, the reduction of fracture risk can be achieved of 15-20%. As prevention is key, this pleas for education of consumers!
Ellen van den Heuvel
FrieslandCampina Innovation
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Dairy products and bone health: how strong is the scientific evidence?, Nutrition Research Reviews, March 2018, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s095442241800001x.
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