Kids Who Avoid Milk Risk Broken Bones

Children who shun milk and don't get enough calcium-rich substitutes may face an increased risk of breaking a bone, according to a new report.

In a study of 50 children considered "milk avoiders," researchers found that 16 suffered at least one bone fracture by the age of nine. And regardless of whether they broke a bone, these children tended to have inadequate calcium intakes and low bone density, according to the report in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Calcium, along with vitamin D and other nutrients, is essential for building and maintaining strong bones. In the U.S., health officials recommend dairy products as the primary source of calcium, but other sources include fortified soy milk and orange juice, leafy green vegetables and supplements.

The children in this study, however, were not getting calcium-containing milk substitutes, lead author Dr. Ailsa Goulding of the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, stated.

Overall, half of the children did not drink milk because of symptoms such as stomach upset or skin irritation. In other cases, though, the children disliked the taste of milk, or their families simply didn't buy it.

Goulding pointed out that many milk avoiders might "happily" drink soy milk, or be willing and able to consume flavored cow's milk, cheese or yogurt. She advised that parents of children who can't or won't drink milk get help from a health professional to figure out how to best meet their children's needs for calcium, protein and other nutrients.

"The important point," Goulding explained, "is that milk and dairy products do supply very important nutrients to children, and if no substitutions ... are offered, the children who avoid milk may be missing out."

In their report, she and her colleagues also point to the importance of regular exercise, which helps build bone, and getting enough time outdoors to boost the body's synthesis of vitamin D from exposure to sunlight.

Of the 50 children in the study, 16 suffered a total of 22 bone fractures, mostly due to "minor trips or falls incurred during play," according to Goulding's team. The forearm was the most common fracture site, and most of the kids who broke their forearms were overweight.

In fact, nearly half of the milk avoiders -- 22 -- were overweight, and the combination of low bone density and high body mass probably contributed to the children's fracture risk, the researchers note. Some past studies have suggested that low-dairy, low-calcium diets are related to heavier body weight.

The current study received funding from New Zealand Milk, as well as government funds from the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

SOURCE: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, February 2004.