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(St.
Louis,
MO –
August,
2008) A
recent
study
provided
more
evidence
that
calcium
plays a
key role
in
helping
kids
build
strong
bones.
The
study,
published
in the
journal
Bone
found
that
higher
intakes
of
calcium,
such as
those
recommended
by the
USDA,
may
significantly
improve
bone
health
in
children.
Researchers
reviewed
data
from 21
clinical
trials
with
more
than
3,800
children
to
determine
how the
intake
of
dietary
calcium
affects
bone
mineral
content
(BMC),
an
indicator
of bone
strength.
The data
showed
that
children
who did
not get
enough
calcium
prior to
the
start of
the
studies
experienced
a
significant
increase
in bone
strength--approximately
25 times
greater
than
children
who
already
consumed
adequate
amounts
of
calcium.
Equally
important,
the
study
suggests
that
there
may be a
calcium
threshold
for bone
health –
that is,
the
level of
calcium
intake
that
triggers
a
significant
effect.
“Dairy
and
other
foods
that are
rich in
calcium
are
thought
to be
important
for the
growth
and
strengthening
of bones
in
children
and
adolescents,”
said
Michael
Huncharek
MD, MPH,
Director
of the
Meta-Analysis
Research
Group
and lead
author
of the
study.
“In the
US,
dairy
products
tend to
be the
preferred
source
of
calcium
since
diets
that
exclude
dairy
are
often
deficient
in this
important
nutrient.
The new
findings
show
that for
those
children
who have
inadequate
calcium
intake,
increasing
dietary
calcium
has a
significant
impact
on bone
development.
Since
most
children
don’t
get
enough
calcium,
meeting
calcium
recommendations
may help
to
prevent
future
osteoporosis.”
Currently,
a large
majority
of
children
and
adolescents
in the
U.S. do
not meet
the
daily
recommended
calcium
intake.
According
to the
USDA,
seven
out of
10 boys
and nine
out of
10 girls
are not
consuming
the
calcium
they
need for
strong
bones.,
Consuming
at least
3
servings
of
low-fat
or
fat-free
dairy
foods
each day
as part
of a
healthy
diet, as
recommended
by
the 2005
Dietary
Guidelines
for
Americans,
helps
reduce
the risk
for
osteoporosis.
“It’s
never
too
early to
make
bone
health a
priority.
This
study
supports
additional
research
that
shows
milk is
an
important
source
of
calcium
which
helps
build
and
maintain
strong
bones,
muscles
and
teeth in
children,”
said
Jennifer
DeHoog,
R.D.,L.D.,
Nutrition
Educator
with St.
Louis
District
Dairy
Council.
“Consuming
3
servings
of
low-fat
or
fat-free
dairy
foods
each day
gives
children
the
calcium
they
need,
along
with
eight
other
essential
nutrients
including
potassium,
phosphorus
and
protein.”
For more
information
on bone
health
and the
health
benefits
of dairy
foods,
check
out
www.stldairycouncil.org.
Want a
Great
Smile?
Brush,
Floss…Eat
Yogurt
Findings
of a New
Study
Show
Yogurt’s
Role in
Gum
Health
(St.
Louis,
MO—June,
2008)
Researchers
in Japan
found
that
daily
intake
of dairy
foods
containing
lactic
acid,
such as
yogurt,
is
associated
with a
lower
prevalence
of
severe
periodontal
(gum)
disease
and
tooth
loss in
non-smoking
adults.
Periodontal
examinations
and
dietary
surveys
were
analyzed
from 942
Hisayama
residents,
age 40
to 79
years.
The
participants’
dairy
intake
was
examined
and
classified
into
four
groups:
milk
(low-fat
and
full-fat
milk),
cheese,
lactic
acid
foods
(yogurt)
and
other
dairy
products
(fat-free
milk and
coffee
creamer).
Those
with the
highest
intake
of
lactic
acid
foods
had a 60
percent
lower
risk for
generalized
deep
periodontal
disease
and a 50
percent
lower
risk for
tooth
loss
than
those
who ate
no
lactic
acid
foods.
Shimazaki
Y, et
al.
Intake
of dairy
products
and
periodontal
disease:
The
Hisayama
Study.
Journal
of
Periodontology.
2008;79:131-137.
DASH to
Dairy to
Lower
Blood
Pressure
Low-Fat
Dairy is
Part of
a
Winning
Team in
the
Blood
Pressure
Battle
(St.
Louis,
MO - June,
2008)
New
research
adds to
the body
of
evidence
that
dairy
foods
may
indeed
affect
blood
pressure
and
overall
heart
health.
Findings
from the
Optimal
Macronutrient
Intake
Trial to
Prevent
Heart
Disease
(OmniHeart)
suggest
that
consumers
have
several
options
when it
comes to
creating
a
heart-healthy
diet.
Study
participants
with
higher
than
normal
blood
pressure
followed
three
different
diets
during
the
course
of the
study:
1) a
carbohydrate-rich
diet, 2)
a higher
protein
diet and
3) a
higher
unsaturated
fat
diet.
Each of
the
three
diets
met
parameters
of the
DASH
(Dietary
Approaches
to Stop
Hypertension)
diet
previously
proven
as
effective
in
lowering
blood
pressure,
and met
the
major
recommendations
of the
2005
Dietary
Guidelines
for
Americans,
emphasizing
low-fat
dairy
foods,
fruits,
vegetables,
and
whole
grains.
All
three
dietary
patterns
led to
reduced
blood
pressure,
improved
cholesterol
levels
and
reduced
estimated
coronary
heart
disease
risk.
A second
study,
published
in the
Hypertension
journal,
analyzed
diet
supplement
records
from
4,680
men and
women
(ages
40-59)
from
Japan,
China,
UK and
US.
Results
showed
that
dietary
phosphorus,
a
nutrient
found in
dairy
and
other
foods,
was
associated
with
reduced
blood
pressure.
In
addition
to
phosphorus,
dietary
calcium
and
magnesium
were
also
shown to
lower
blood
pressure
significantly.
Both
studies
suggest
that
dairy
foods
and the
nutrients
they
contain
can be
part of
a
heart-healthy
diet.
Swain J,
et al.
Characteristics
of the
diet
patterns
tested
in the
Optimal
Micronutrient
Intake
Trial to
Prevent
Heart
Disease
(OmniHeart):
options
for a
heart-healthy
diet.
Journal
of the
American
Dietetic
Association.2008;108:257-265.
Elliott
P, et
al.
Dietary
phosphorus
and
blood
pressure:
international
study of
macro-
and
micro-nutrients
and
blood
pressure.
Hypertension.
2008;51:669-675.
For
more
information
on the
studies
or to
schedule
an
interview
on the
benefits
of dairy
foods,
please
locate
your St.
Louis
Dairy
Council
nutrition
educator
on the
CONTACT
US
page. |