Calcium Does Not Benefit Children
By Dr. McDougall
Effects of calcium supplementation on bone density in healthy children:
meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials by Tania Winzenberg
published in the October 2006 issue of the British Medical Journal
found, �The small effect of calcium supplementation on bone mineral
density in the upper limb is unlikely to reduce the risk of fracture,
either in childhood or later life, to a degree of major public health
importance.�1 The authors state, �Our results do not support the premise
that any type of supplementation is more effective than another.� Their
findings mean dairy products are of no value either. Even studies that
used intakes of 1400 mg per day of calcium showed no benefit.
Comments: Osteoporosis is a real problem affecting millions of
people. The dairy and calcium supplement industries would like you to
believe this potentially deadly disease is due to calcium deficiency and
the solution is to eat lots of their products, beginning as early in
life as possible. They commonly point out in their sales pitches how
important it is to intervene in childhood, so that the peak bone mass
can be maximized early in life, preventing fractures later on in life.
The truth is calcium deficiency is not the reason for weak bones and the
bone mineral density (BMD) is an unreliable predictor of future risk for
fractures. (For more information read my October 2004 newsletter
article: Resisting the Broken Bone Businesses: Bone Mineral Density
Tests and the Drugs That Follow.)
An accompanying editorial pointed out, �Of three qualitative reviews
of literature published in this decade, two concluded that it is not
known whether the modest increments in rate of bone gain after
supplementation with calcium or dairy products will translate into
clinically meaningful reductions in the risk of osteoporosis later in
life or even persist beyond the treatment period. The third concluded
that increases in dairy or total dietary calcium intake did not reliably
increase bone mineral density or reduce fracture rate in children or
adolescents.�2 So the research clearly contradicts the advertising claim
of better bone health from the calcium and the dairy industries � and
nobody is willing or able to stop these industries from lying to the
public.
Osteoporosis is due to gradual loss of bone tissue (not just the
calcium) primarily from poor nutrition and secondarily from lack of
exercise. Acids from the high animal protein Western diet cause the
major damage to the
bones.3 The bones provide most of the alkaline material to buffer this
dietary-derived acid from cheese, meat, poultry, seafood and isolated
soy protein-based foods (fake meats and cheeses). The acid-base problem
is compounded by the lack of alkaline fruits and vegetables in people�s
diets.
Any positive effect that calcium supplements may have on bone health
come from their antacid effects (not the calcium). For example, the
popular antacid, TUMS, is recommended for prevention of bone loss. TUMS
is an antacid made of calcium and carbonates. The alkaline carbonates
neutralize dietary acids and stop the bone loss. The same bone building
effects from acid neutralizing occurs when baking soda (sodium
bicarbonate) or potassium bicarbonates are fed to people.3
Those who rely on calcium supplements or dairy products for stronger
bones are destined to disappointment. The answer to strong bones for a
lifetime is a diet based on alkaline foods �vegetables and fruits.
Exercise and an active life have a very positive influence.
1) Winzenberg T, Shaw K, Fryer J, Jones G. Effects of calcium
supplementation on bone density in healthy children: meta-analysis of
randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2006 Oct 14;333(7572):775.
2) Lanou AJ. Bone health in children. BMJ. 2006 Oct
14;333(7572):763-4.
3) Maurer M, Riesen W, Muser J, Hulter HN, Krapf R. Neutralization of
Western diet inhibits bone resorption independently of K intake and
reduces cortisol secretion in humans. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2003
Jan;284(1):F32-40.
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