The children in the studies were given either calcium supplements or a dummy pill. Researchers found only a small effect of supplementation on total-body bone mineral content and upper arm bone density. Children in both groups had same increase in the bone density in the hip and spine region and the supplement group did only a slight better in the arm.
The results were the same regardless of the child's sex, ethnic background, exercise level or age.
"This small increase in upper limb bone mineral density is unlikely to result in a clinically important decrease in the risk of fracture," said Tania Winzenberg, lead author of the study published in the British Medical Journal.
Based on the findings, Winzenberg's group recommends other approaches to improving kids' bone health, especially increasing vitamin D intake and eating more fruit and vegetables.
