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Educate your patients on the importance of 3-A-Day of Dairy: Here's
a great
tool (PDF: 618k) to show families how to get their 3-A-Day of Dairy
every day for stronger bones.
Developed in conjunction with The American Academy of Family
Physicians, The American Academy of Pediatrics, The American Dietetic
Association, and The National Medical Association.
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Dairy Council Digest Archives
Building Better Bones with Dairy Foods Throughout the Lifecycle
Introduction
Osteoporosis, a skeletal disease characterized by reduced bone mass, structural deterioration, and excessive remodeling leading to increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures, affects an estimated 44 million U.S. adults over the age of 50 (1-3). Although 80% of those with osteoporosis are women, this disease also affects men and occurs in all races and ethnic groups (1,2). An estimated1.5 million adults will suffer an osteoporosis-related fracture each year and up to 20% of those with hip fractures will die from injury-related complications within a year (1). Osteoporosis incurs direct care costs of up to $18 billion a year (1). With the aging of the population, by 2020, half of Americans over age 50 will have or be at high risk for osteoporosis if preventive measures are not taken (1). The Surgeon General's first-ever Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis emphasizes that it is essential to develop effective strategies throughout life to prevent and manage this bone disease (1).
Genetic and environmental (e.g., nutrition, physical activity) factors influence bone health and risk of osteoporosis (1-4). Nutrition is an important modifiable factor in the development and maintenance of bones, as well as the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis (1,5-7). Calcium and vitamin D have long been known to be beneficial for bone health (1,4-12). This is understandable considering that 99% of the body’s calcium is stored in bones where it contributes to their strength and structure, and vitamin D enhances calcium absorption (8,11). Dairy foods such as milk are the major dietary source of calcium and vitamin D (1,8,13-15). High calcium intake, especially from dairy foods, along with adequate vitamin D status, has been demonstrated to maximize genetically programmed peak bone mass, which, for most of the skeleton, is reached by age 30 or earlier; to maintain skeletal mass in adulthood; and to slow age-related bone loss and/or reduce fracture risk in later adult years (9-12).
In an analysis of139 scientific papers published between 1975 and 2000, 50 out of 52 controlled calcium intervention studies showed a better bone balance, reduced bone loss, or decreased fracture risk at high calcium intakes (9). In an updated analysis of180 papers, a positive relationship between calcium intake and bone health was supported in 68 out of 70 intervention studies (12). The majority (75% or more) of observational studies showed a positive association between calcium, dairy foods, and bone health (9,12), and all intervention studies that used dairy foods showed a beneficial effect on bone health (9).
Consuming 3 to 4 servings a day of dairy foods could reduce osteoporosisrelated fractures by at least 20%, resulting in healthcare cost savings of more than $3.5 billion/year or $14 billion over five years, according to a recent analysis.
Calcium is the specific nutrient most important for bone health (4,8). Low calcium intake is a chronic public health problem that begins after early childhood (1,4,16-20). The emergence of vitamin D insufficiency in almost every segment of the population has increased attention to its importance in bone health (21,22). Inadequate consumption of milk and other dairy products contributes to calcium shortages and low vitamin D status (4,19,21,23). Americans are consuming only an average of1.5 servings each day from the Milk Group (24).
Although most research has focused on single nutrients, evidence also indicates that foods such as milk and other dairy products, and total dietary patterns affect bone health. Recently, researchers conservatively estimated that consuming 3 to 4 servings of dairy foods/day could reduce osteoporosis-related fractures by at least 20%, resulting in healthcare cost savings of more than $3.5 billion/year or $14 billion over five years (29). A dietary pattern such as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet – a low fat, calcium-rich diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and dairy products – has been shown to significantly reduce bone turnover in adults, which immediately reduces fragility and, if sustained, may improve bone mineral status and further reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures (30,31). The researchers speculate that the skeletal benefit of the DASH diet is due to the presence of multiple nutrients packaged together in foods (30). For example, milk and other dairy foods are not only the major dietary source of calcium, but also provide a number of other nutrients such as protein, phosphorus, vitamin D, magnesium, potassium, and zinc (13-15) important for bone health (5-7,25).
This Digest reviews recent studies supporting a beneficial role for calcium-rich dairy foods in building and maintaining healthy bones throughout life. Also discussed is the importance of dairy foods as the preferred source of nutrients for healthy bones and efforts to improve Americans’ dairy food intake and bone health.
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