|
 | health information | daily health news
Calcium supplements 'little effect' on kids' bones
20 September 2006
Giving children calcium supplements does not have a significant effect on strengthening their bones in later life, according to researchers from the Menzies Research Institute in Australia.
Researchers looked at 19 different studies that had been carried out on 2,900 children between the ages of three and 18.
They found that those who took calcium supplements had a 1.7 percent better bone density in their upper limbs. However, they concluded that the supplements did not increase bone density in areas that are prone to fracture in later life, such as the hips.
In the report that was published in the British Medical Journal, researchers said: "The small effect of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density in the upper limb is unlikely to reduce the risk of fracture, either in childhood or later life, to a degree of major public health importance."
"It may be appropriate to explore alternative nutritional interventions, such as increasing vitamin D concentrations and intake of fruit and vegetables," they added.
Related links
More information
|
