Little Evidence of Connection Between Dairy Foods and Bone Health.A recent review article examined the evidence of a relationship between dairy foods and bone health and considered the following questions: 1. "Does research support the recommendation for daily intake intake /in·take/ (in-tak´) the substances, or the quantities thereof, taken in and utilized by the body. intake, n the substance or quantities thereof taken in and used by the body. of dairy foods by the general US population for improved bone health? Are there select age, sex, or ethnic groups that are more or less likely to benefit from regular use of dairy foods? 2. Are all dairy foods equivalent vehicles for dietary di·e·tar·y adj. Of or relating to diet. dietary 1. pertaining to diet. 2. a course or system of diet. dietary hepatic necrosis see hepatosis dietetica. calcium, such that they should be listed as exchangeable within one group?" The authors of this report examined 57 studies related to dairy product consumption and bone health and found that 53% of studies found no effect, 42% found a beneficial effect, and 5% found an unfavorable effect. They conclude, "These values suggest that there is little risk of harm to the skeletal system skeletal system n. The bodily system that consists of the bones, their associated cartilages, and the joints. It supports and protects the body, produces blood cells, and stores minerals. if recommendations to the general public to consume dairy foods are heeded. However, these values do not provide a solid body of evidence to support this recommendation." The studies that have been conducted do not provide enough information about males and ethnic minorities to make any conclusions about dairy products dairy products dairy npl → produits laitier dairy products dairy npl → Milchprodukte pl, Molkereiprodukte pl and bone health in these groups. The authors speculate that yogurt yogurt: see fermented milk. yogurt Semisolid, fermented, often flavoured milk food. Yogurt is known and consumed in almost all parts of the world. and milk could be advantageous for bone health, while hard and processed cheeses would be less advantageous due to their higher levels of sodium sodium, a metallic chemical element; symbol Na [Lat. natrium]; at. no. 11; at. wt. 22.98977; m.p. 97.81°C;; b.p. 892.9°C;; sp. gr. 0.971 at 20°C;; valence +1. Sodium is a soft, silver-white metal. . Cottage cheese cottage cheese a soft, uncured cheese made from soured skim milk; most of the lactose is removed with the whey. Used in low-residue diets for dogs and cats. has high levels of sodium and protein compared to calcium, and might not be beneficial for bones. This type of speculation certainly raises important questions about the traditional practice of grouping dairy foods together as "good sources of calcium." The authors conclude, "... without more well-controlled studies, the body of scientific evidence appears inadequate to support a recommendation for daily intake of dairy foods to promote bone health in the general US population." Weinsier RL, Krumdieck CL. 2000. Dairy foods and bone health: examination of the evidence. Am J Clin Nutr 72:681-689. |
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