[Evaluation of milk intake and calcium supplement on bone mineral density and growth in children through Meta-analysis].
OBJECTIVE
Based on peer-reviewed random-control studies, effects of calcium supplement and intake of milk on bone mineral density (BMD) and growth in children were evaluated.


METHODS
Meta-analysis was applied to review published data in random-control studies related to the effects of calcium supplement and milk consumption on BMD, body height and body weight in children.


RESULTS
Eleven peer-reviewed papers published during 1993 to 2006 were selected in this study. Homogeneity test showed that random effect model should be selected for weighting and pooling data. The combined means of improvement in BMD, height and body weight in children with milk intervention were 2.01 (0.92 - 3.09), 0.25 (0.09 - 0.41) and 0.63 (0.33 - 0.93), respectively, and the data from children with calcium intervention were 1.05 (0.66 - 1.43), -0.10 (-0.25 - 0.05) and -0.75 (-1.98 - 0.49), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Both milk and calcium intakes could improve BMD of children significantly, and the difference in BMD gain through milk intake was the same as that with calcium intervention, however, compared with the control group, increasing milk intake did significantly promote growth and development of children compared to the calcium supplement group.
Li
Nan
N
Union School of Public Health, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Wang
Yin
Y
Yin
Shi-an
SA
D000818:Animals; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D015519:Bone Density / Q000187:drug effects*; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008892:Milk; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D002136:Calcium, Dietary