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Effects of nutritional supplement with herbal extract on bone mineral density and height in prepubescent children - a

Myeong Soo Lee1, Ki-Won Park, Ji-Sun Park

  • 1Center for Integrative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Republic of Korea.

Phytotherapy Research : PTR
|October 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

A nutritional supplement with herbal extracts significantly improved height and bone mineral density (BMD) in prepubescent children. This suggests potential benefits for growth and bone development in children with lower height percentiles.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Nutrition Science
  • Bone Health

Background:

  • Prepubescent children in the 25th percentile of height may benefit from interventions to support growth.
  • Bone mineral density (BMD) development is crucial during childhood for long-term skeletal health.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of a nutritional supplement containing herbal extracts on height and BMD in prepubescent children.
  • To assess the impact of the supplement on annual growth rate and bone development.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of prepubescent children (25th percentile for height) received the supplement for 6 months.
  • Measurements of height and BMD were taken at baseline and after the 6-month intervention period.

Main Results:

  • The supplement significantly increased both height and BMD in both boys and girls compared to baseline values.
  • The observed annual growth rate exceeded the standard growth rate for the age group.

Conclusions:

  • Preliminary findings suggest that the nutritional supplement positively impacts height and BMD development in prepubescent children.
  • Further large-scale, placebo-controlled studies are necessary to confirm these promising results and establish definitive conclusions.

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