Calcium, Exercise Vital for Kids' Bones

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Calcium, Exercise Vital for Kids' Bones

(Associated Press/AP Online)

Updated: Feb 6th 2006

http://mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news & id=84404 & cn=28

By LINDSEY TANNER

CHICAGO - Doctors should evaluate children for the amount of calcium

they get and encourage them to exercise to help prevent an epidemic of

broken bones later in life, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises.

National data show that most American children over age 8 don't get

enough calcium, a deficiency that increases their risks for developing

osteoporosis in adulthood, the academy said in a report released Monday

in the journal Pediatrics.

The bone-thinning disease is associated with aging and afflicts 10

million Americans, mostly older women. National data show it is

responsible for more than 1.5 million bone fractures each year.

There's also evidence suggesting that fractures may be on the rise in

U.S. adolescents, perhaps because calcium-deficient diets and little

exercise already have weakened their bones even if they haven't yet

developed osteoporosis, said Dr. Craig B. Langman, who treats pediatric

bone problems at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital.

" We really should be having more recommendations to pediatricians to

think about long-term bone health in kids. This is an excellent first

step in doing that, " said Langman, who was not involved in the report.

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Calcium is needed for bone formation, and weight-bearing exercise

strengthens bones. For children, it could include soccer, basketball,

football, running - essentially any repetitive activity in which the

arms or legs bear the body's weight.

" You can take all the calcium you want, but if you don't do any

weight-bearing activity, you don't have good bone health, " said report

co-author Dr. Greer, a member of the academy's nutrition committee

and pediatrics professor at the University of Wisconsin.

U.S. youngsters are deficient in both for several reasons, Greer said:

They drink sodas instead of milk or calcium-fortified juice; they're

spending more time on TV, computers and video games, instead of

exercising; and many schools have phased out organized physical activities.

Milk and other dairy products are the most common calcium sources in

traditional Western diets, but there's no evidence that they are

superior to other sources, such as broccoli, Swiss chard and collard

greens, the report said. Still, children tend to avoid those, too, Greer

said.

The Pediatrics report recommends doctors screen for calcium intake and

bone health three times during childhood: at age 2 to 3 after weaning

from breast milk or formula; at age 8 to 9, before the adolescent growth

spurt; and again during puberty or teen years, when the peak rate of

bone mass growth occurs.

Screening can include simple questions about diet, milk consumption,

amount of exercise, bone fractures and family history of osteoporosis,

the report said.

The report includes sample questions and recommendations for daily

calcium intake at various ages. It comes three years after the academy

issued guidelines for vitamin D, which is needed to help the body absorb

calcium. The 2003 guidelines recommend vitamin D supplements for babies

who only get breast-milk and older children at risk for deficiency.

Many U.S. youngsters are vitamin D deficient too because they don't

drink vitamin D-fortified milk and lack adequate exposure - without

sunscreen - to sunlight, which is needed for the body to produce the

vitamin. Doctors say only 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure weekly is

needed for adequate vitamin D production.

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