BMJ  2006;333 (14 October), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7572.0

Calcium supplements in healthy children are unlikely to reduce fractures

Calcium supplementation has little effect on bone mineral density in healthy children say Winzenberg and colleagues (p 775). Their meta-analysis of 19 randomised controlled trials, which involved more than 2800 healthy children aged 3-18 years, found that calcium supplements had no effect at the hip or lumbar spine. Upper limb bone density improved to a small degree. As they found only weak evidence that this effect persists, calcium supplements are unlikely to decrease fracture risk to a degree of major public health importance.


Figure 1
 Credit: CORDELIA MOLLOY/SPL

 


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Relevant Article

Effects of calcium supplementation on bone density in healthy children: meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Tania Winzenberg, Kelly Shaw, Jayne Fryer, and Graeme Jones
BMJ 2006 333: 775. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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