Can foods added calcium contribute to bone growth

[raymond723]

Can foods added calcium contribute to bone growth

Giving children foods fortified with calcium to help build up their bones may be a waste of time, say experts.
The mineral is added to many breakfast cereals, snack bars and drinks as manufacturers woo the parental market.
But scientists have found that such products do not produce significantly stronger bones, nor do they reduce the chance of a child suffering fractures.
It is thought that calcium artificially added to food passes through the body too quickly to be properly absorbed and therefore fails to perform the same functions as foods which are naturally rich in calcium, such as milk, cheese and leafy green vegetables.
It is now built into such things as Kellogg's Coco Pops, breakfast bars such as the Frosties Cereal and Milk bar, some Tropicana orange juices and even a calcium-enriched water called Danone Activ. The theory is that if children build strong bones it will protect them better against problems such as osteoporosis in later life. But the research casts doubt on the usefulness of such products. Experts analysed 19 studies where children aged between three and 19 were given extra calcium in their diet in this way. They then measured the impact by measuring their bone mineral density and mineral content.

The team found few significant increases in bone mass and none in the two bones which are most vulnerable to fracture - the lower spine and upper part of the thigh. A small impact was noted in bone density in the arm, but it cut the risk of fracture by just 0.2 per cent, according to the report published in the Cochrane Library. The influential publication is produced by the international health research organisation, the Cochrane Collaboration.
Lead researcher Professor Frank R Greer, of the University of Wisconsin, said the findings for children echo those seen in adult studies. "You can get some short-term improvements but as soon as you stop the supplements it goes right back to where it was," he said. 　

[Abe]

It is difficult to say whether or not calcium-fortified foods have the same benefits as foods naturally high in calcium. There are so many studies out there. One must really sift through all of the reputable studies and understand how they were structured, the sample sizes, etc. and perhaps study a meta-analysis to get the complete picture.

However, the theory proposed, that calcium in calcium-fortified foods passes through the body too quickly to be absorbed, is not far-fetched. If you've ever eaten natural, whole foods for a while and then suddenly binged on fast food or other foods with un-natural additives (the aforementioned cereals) you know what I mean!

Although purely anecdotal, I tend to think eating real, whole, natural foods in the right quantities is the best way meet ones nutritional needs, not by eating foods that have been fortified to appear better than they really are.

[rawfoods]

I think eating raw foods that naturally has calcium is the best way to go. Do you trust nature or scientists? That's what it really boils down to.

[rigdo]

I'll go for natural foods/drinks that contains calcium. Those that are not processed,like pure milk. It is good for the bones. It is up to the parents to know how they can manage their child's health.

[samue1eb]

I agree with those above, it's better to just eat the food with the calcium in them. I think the same way about vitamins (not that I am against taking vitamins).

[henrycalhoun51]

Whole, natural and traditionally prepared to me is the way to go.

[Peterpage]

=) try organic foods, it helps

[kimchin]

many organic food contain calcium,example milk, vegetables.
i think the bone growth is also affected zinc.

[vivilben]

eating foods with calcium is just insufficient to maintain strong skeleton without proper enough excerise to activate the growth of bone cells along with the stimulation of vitamin D

[samue1eb]

Good point, vivilben