Effects of average childhood dairy intake on adolescent bone health.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of usual childhood dairy intake on adolescent bone health.


METHODS
Dietary data collected in the Framingham Children's Study over 12 years were used to evaluate usual dairy consumption and adolescent bone health. Each child's average Food Pyramid servings were estimated from yearly sets of 3-day diet records. Bone mineral content (BMC) and area (BA) for total body and 6 regions (arms, legs, trunk, ribs, pelvis, and spine) at ages 15 to 17 years were the primary outcomes. Analysis of covariance was used to adjust for potential confounding by sex and physical activity, as well as age, height, body mass index and percent body fat at the time of the bone scan.


RESULTS
Consuming >or= 2 servings/day of dairy (versus less) was associated with significantly higher mean BMC and BA. Higher intakes of meats/other proteins (>or= 4 servings per/day) were also associated with higher mean BMC and BA values. Children with higher intakes of both dairy and meats/other proteins had the highest adjusted BMC (3090.1 g), and children consuming less of each had the lowest BMC (2740.2 g).


CONCLUSIONS
These prospective data provide evidence for a beneficial effect of childhood dairy consumption on adolescent bone health.
Moore
Lynn L
LL
Section of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. llmoore@bu.edu
Bradlee
M Loring
ML
Gao
Di
D
Singer
Martha R
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D016226:Phosphorus, Dietary