Related Experiment Videos
Role of calcium in bone health during childhood
1E.A. Martin Program in Human Nutrition, South Dakota State University, Brookings 57007, USA.
Insights
Early-life calcium intake boosts bone mineral density (BMD) in cortical bone, especially in children with low baseline intake. Effects are most pronounced during supplementation and in older children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Bone Health Research
- Calcium Metabolism
Background:
- Adequate calcium intake is crucial for optimal bone development in children.
- Understanding the impact of early calcium consumption on bone mineral density (BMD) is essential for long-term skeletal health.
- Previous studies have yielded varied results regarding calcium supplementation efficacy in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically analyze pediatric calcium supplementation trials.
- To identify consistent effects of calcium intake on BMD at specific bone sites.
- To determine if age and baseline calcium intake influence the response to supplementation.
Main Methods:
- Review and analysis of observational and longitudinal studies.
- Calculation of annualized percent changes in bone mineral density (BMD).
- Stratification of data by bone site, age group (pubertal vs. prepubertal), and baseline calcium intake.
Main Results:
- Increased BMD from higher calcium intake was primarily observed at cortical bone sites.
- Supplementation effects were most evident in children with low baseline calcium intakes.
- Observed BMD increases did not appear to persist after the supplementation period.
- Older (pubertal) children showed greater annual increases in lumbar BMD compared to younger children.
- Higher calcium intakes correlated with greater midradius BMD increases in older children, but not significantly in younger ones.
Conclusions:
- Early-life calcium intake positively influences BMD, particularly in cortical bone and in under-supplemented children.
- The benefits of calcium supplementation on BMD are age-dependent, with pubertal children showing greater responses.
- Long-term skeletal benefits beyond the supplementation period require further investigation.
Abstract:
A discussion of observational and longitudinal studies examining the effect of early-life calcium intake on bone health is provided. A critical analysis of pediatric calcium supplementation trials is conducted by determining annualized percent changes in bone mineral density (BMD). The focus of the analysis is to identify consistent findings at specific bone sites, determine whether effects differed by the age of children studied, and establish the relationship between bone changes and baseline calcium intake. We found that increases in BMD owing to higher calcium intake among children appear to occur primarily in cortical bone sites, are most apparent among populations with low baseline calcium intakes, and do not seem to persist beyond the calcium supplementation period. Older (e.g., pubertal) children appear to have greater annual increases in lumbar BMD than younger (e.g., prepubertal) children. The annual percent increase in midradius BMD appears to be greater at higher intakes among the older children, but such a relationship is less apparent among the younger children.