title: Milk consumption decreases activity of human serum alkaline phosphatase: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: Since the Japanese have not reached the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for calcium (600 mg), milk is recommended as a Ca-rich food to increase Ca intake and prevent osteoporosis in Japan. To determine whether milk consumption influences Ca/bone metabolism in the Ca-deficient population, relationships between milk consumption and serum alkaline phosphatase (Al-P) activity were analyzed in 3,098 premenopausal and 1,182 postmenopausal women and 13,141 men aged 30 to 69 years. Milk consumption was classified into no/yes groups by a self-administered questionnaire that asked "Do you drink a glass of milk (180 to 200 mL) or more everyday?". Regardless of age or sex, the "yes" group had a lower activity of serum Al-P than the "no" group. Milk consumption decreased the activity to a greater degree in women, especially perimenopausal/postmenopausal women, than in men. These results were confirmed in a multivariate analysis considering age, body mass index (BMI), and smoking and drinking habits as confounding factors. Although menopause obviously increased serum Al-P activity in perimenopausal women, it could not influence the effects of milk consumption on the activity. These results suggest that milk has osteostatic effects on humans via a mechanism different from that of estrogens. Milk consumption, even one glass per day, may be an easy and effective strategy for prevention of osteoporosis in the Ca-deficient population, especially perimenopausal/postmenopausal women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Gifu University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagaya
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000172:deficiency; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000378:metabolism; D017697:Premenopause / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D002118:Calcium