Skeletal benefits from calcium supplementation are limited in children with calcium intakes near 800 mg daily

Abstract

Introduction and HypothesisCalcium supplementation enhances bone mass accrual during administration, with a sustained benefit observed using milk-based calcium but not calcium salts. We tested the hypothesis that calcium from milk minerals but not calcium carbonate will be sustained after supplementation was discontinued.MethodsNinety-nine pre-pubertal boys and girls aged 5–11 years were followed for 12 months after being randomized to receive 800 mg/day of calcium from milk minerals (MM) or calcium carbonate (CC), or a placebo (Pla) in a 10-month double blind study. Total body and regional BMC, and femoral shaft bone dimensions were measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Group dif..