Calcium supplementation for improving bone mineral density in children.

Study answer

What this study found

Calcium supplementation had little overall effect on bone mineral density in healthy children. A small, statistically modest benefit was seen at the upper limb, and that effect persisted after supplementation stopped, but it was unlikely to translate into a clinically meaningful reduction in fracture risk. Many other bone sites and outcomes showed no statistically significant difference, and the review concluded that the evidence does not support calcium supplementation as a public health intervention for healthy children. The findings should not be extrapolated to children with medical…

Study & population

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 randomized trials in healthy children and adolescents under 18 years without medical conditions affecting bone metabolism.

Intervention

Calcium supplementation was tested in multiple forms, including calcium carbonate, calcium citrate malate, calcium phosphate, milk extract, and milk minerals, at doses ranging from 300 mg/day to 1200 mg/day, usually given orally for the trial duration versus placebo.

Key limitation

The included trials were heterogeneous in calcium form, dose, duration, age, pubertal status, baseline calcium intake, ethnicity, and outcome site, which limits comparability.

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Original abstract