ICPHSP4007

                                                                                                         

“Osteoporosis and Dairy Products”                                                                                                                                                                          Click here to download Pdf file.

 

 

Author:       Nikolaos E. Rodopaios MSc., MA.

 

Affiliation:  To be PhD in Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, University of Crete School of Medicine, Heraklion Crete, Greece.

 

 

Abstract:

Historically, milk has a broad consumption due to its fine nutritional value. It contains various elements, such as bioactive peptides, calcium, and growth factors that are related to bone metabolism and it could interfere both in forming and in reabsorption of bones. For more than two decades, the National Institute for Health, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Ministry of Agriculture of the USA recommend to children and adults the intake of calcium for prevention of osteoporosis. These recommended intakes have gradually escalated and dairy products have been suggested as the desirable source of calcium intake, even through federal documents. Recent epidemiological studies in women and children and teenagers have questioned the efficacy of dairy products and other calcium-containing products for the good health of the bones.

The recommendation of the World health Organization (WHO) for the prevention of osteoporosis, published in 2003, identifies the “calcium paradox” and suggests the minimum intake of 400-500 mg/day of calcium from all sources for individuals aging more than 50 years and living in countries with high rate of bone fractures. On the other hand, European and UK reports suggest dietary reference intake of calcium through dairy products between 800 and 1300 mg/day for all individuals –USA included- for their whole life. The bone health is evaluated by BMD (Bone Mineral Density) and BMC (Bone Mineral Content) indexes in relation to calcium intake from dairy and non-dairy products in order to quantitative correlate the intake of milk and dairy products.

Many nutrition policy statements recommend the consumption of 500-1300 mg calcium, respectively, for ages 1-18 years, which have been standardized to specific portions predominantly from dairy products, in order to achieve health and integrity of bone. However, the findings of epidemiological prospective studies have raised questions about the effectiveness of the use of dairy products to promote good bone health. But based studies demonstrated that milk consumption in adolescence is not necessary and is independent of bone mineral density of the spine and hip, and the incidence of hip and forearm fractures in adulthood, is not an instrument for promotion of skeletal health and not found no association between dairy products (dietary calcium) and skeletal health indicators.

 

Keywords:

nutrition policy, osteoporosis, dietary calcium.