Childhood Dairy Intake Boosts Bone Health Later On (HealthDay)

THURSDAY, Aug. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Having two or more servingsof dairy products a day starting as a preschooler may lead to better bonehealth as an adolescent, a new report says.

The study, expected to be published in The Journal ofPediatrics, found higher levels of bone mineral content and bonedensity in teens who consumed dairy at least twice a day since the ages of3 to 5. These adolescents' average bone mineral content was 175 gramshigher than adolescents who had consumed less than two dairy servings aday, even after researchers adjusted the results for factors that affectnormal bone development, such as the child's growth, body size, andactivity level.

The study highlights the significant role dairy plays in childhood as"a key source of proteins, calcium, and other micronutrients includingphosphorus and vitamin D," study researcher Lynn Moore, of BostonUniversity School of Medicine, said in a news release issued by thejournal.

The researchers also found that children who combined their 2 or moreservings of dairy with 4 ounces of meat or other nondairy protein during aday had bone mineral contents more than 300 grams higher than thosechildren with lower intakes of both dairy and other proteins.

The findings come from analyzing data and family food diaries from theFramingham Children's Study, which gathered information from 106 children,3 to 5 years of age at the beginning of the study, over a 12-year period.Information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture was also used todetermine the children's average daily intake of dairy and other foods.

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