Bone Health and Osteoporosis

The calcium and other nutrients in milk products are essential for building and maintaining strong bones during childhood, reducing bone loss during adulthood and preventing osteoporosis.

Synopsis: Bone Health and Osteoporosis

Milk product consumption is recognized as a key factor in bone health and in the prevention of osteoporosis. There is very good evidence that calcium and vitamin D, two essential components of milk, play important roles with respect to attaining...

Keywords: bone health, osteoporosis

Definitions, Situation of Osteoporosis in Canada and Risk Factors

Osteoporosis is a disease with its roots in childhood, as bone size, strength, and mineralization peak in one's 20s. Since bone mass declines with advancing age and menopause, individuals who attain optimal peak bone mass during their younger years will have an advantage as they get...
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Bone Health: Studies in Adults and the Elderly

Data from NHANES III was used to determine whether milk intake during childhood and adolescence, when controlled for current calcium intake, was associated with adult bone mineral content, bone mineral density, and the incidence of osteoporotic fractures in 3,251 non-Hispanic white women...
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Bone Health: Studies in Children and Adolescents

A meta-analysis published in 2008 of 21 randomized controlled trials consisting of 3,821 children aged 4 to 17 years (82% of whom were female) on the role of milk products and dietary calcium on bone mineral content in children revealed a number of benefits: Among studies of children with...
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Role of Vitamin D in Bone Health

In a meta-analysis published in 2009, the impact of vitamin D supplements in preventing nonvertebral and hip fractures among older individuals (65 years and older) was evaluated: The studies included 12 double-blind randomized controlled trials for nonvertebral fractures (n= 42,279) and 8...
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Role of Protein in Bone Health

In a review paper by renowned bone health expert Robert P. Heaney and protein metabolism expert Donald K. Layman, the evidence related to protein and bone health was examined: Loss of bone mass (osteopenia) and loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia) that occur with age are closely...
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Role of Other Nutrients in Bone Health

Nutrients other than calcium and vitamin D that have been implicated in bone health are outlined in Table 2.
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Role of Calcium Supplements in Bone Health

Several studies have demonstrated that milk products are superior to calcium supplements alone, likely due to the role of other nutrients found in milk products that have also been shown to be important for bone health. Only one head-to-head study has addressed the role of calcium...
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Milk Products and Bone Health: Potential Mechanisms

A review of potential mechanisms for calcium and vitamin D in bone health are outlined as follows: ¹
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Scientific Evidence Keywords

What's New

Lactose Intolerance and Health: Consensus from the National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health recently released a consensus statement on lactose intolerance and health. This consensus statement was prepared by independent panels of health professionals and public representatives and is based on the results of a systematic evidence review.
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The Role of Milk in Physical Activity

The evidence to date indicates that both white milk and chocolate milk may play an important role in the context of sports nutrition.
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