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free tools for patients, expert nutrition advice and information on updated
dairy nutrition resources.
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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 STRONG BONES: STARTING IN THE EARLY YEARS
Volume 77, Number 5 September/October 2006
Summary
Prevention of osteoporosis, a debilitating disease characterized by low bone mass and increased risk of fractures, is a public health priority. Although this disease typically affects older adults, its prevention begins in childhood and adolescence by optimizing genetically determined peak bone mass reached sometime between late adolescence and the early 20s.
Bone mass is determined by genetics and environmental factors such as diet and exercise. Although many nutrients influence bone health, most attention has focused on calcium. Dietary calcium recommendations are 800 mg/day for children aged 4 through 8 years and 1,300 mg/day for children and adolescents 9 through 18 years of age. Unfortunately, most U.S. children older than 8 years fail to consume recommended intakes of calcium. Low intake of milk and other dairy foods (e.g., cheese, yogurt), the major dietary source of calcium, contributes in large part to low calcium intake. Dairy foods also contain other bone-building nutrients including vitamin D (if fortified), phosphorus, protein, potassium, magnesium, and zinc.
Several factors influence children’s and adolescents’ consumption of dairy foods, such as replacement of milk by soft drinks, fruit juices, and/or fruit drinks. Parents and other family members, through role modeling or by consuming and serving dairy foods themselves, can positively impact children’s and adolescents’ dairy and calcium intakes. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages adequate calcium intake by all family members.
Numerous studies demonstrate that consuming an adequate intake of dairy foods and/or calcium during childhood and particularly adolescence is important for optimizing genetically determined peak bone mass. This in turn may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in later adult years. Childhood and adolescence is a critical period for establishing healthful dietary practices and lifestyle behaviors that, if maintained, can support skeletal health.
The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, recognizing the important role of dairy foods in improving overall diet quality, nutrient adequacy, and children’s and adolescents’ bone health, recommends 3 cups of low-fat or fat-free milk or equivalent milk products a day for children 9 years of age and older (2 cups a day or equivalent for children 2 to 8 years).
In a recent report on bone health, the AAP outlines several strategies to optimize bone health and calcium intake of children and adolescents. These include consuming 3 servings of calcium-rich dairy foods (e.g., low-fat milk, flavored milk, cheese, or yogurt) a day for children 4 to 8 years of age and 4 servings a day for children and adolescents 9 to 18 years of age as part of a well-rounded diet including fruits and vegetables, and participating in regular physical activity, especially weight-bearing exercise. The AAP encourages physicians to regularly assess children’s and adolescents’ calcium intakes and suggests that families at risk of inadequate calcium intake consult a registered dietitian for dietary advice.
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