I have seen references somewhere to studies or surveys that indicate
the many people are taking in too little calcium as a result of the
tendency to feel that 'all dairy products are bad for us'.  A
consequence is increased osteoporosis in adults esp women, and
weakened bones and teeth in children).I am sure I have seen reduced
fat dairy foods praised as THE way of remedying this - with
nutritional experts now maintaining that we ought to go back to
consuming moderate amounts of  milk, cheese, yoghourt etc.  I cannot
find any specific references to this SWING IN OPINION on the Internet
(about the only thing I have ever been unable to find - with one
exception!) Can you help? Thanks! Caroline Shreeve.

---

Request for Question Clarification by kyrie26-ga on 04 Nov 2002 12:38 PST

Hello drom-ga,

If I can find you evidence that critical calcium supplementation
coming from dairy products is a myth, will you accept it as an answer
instead? Meaning, if I can prove that calcium deficiency is NOT caused
by low intakes of dairy products, will you accept this as an answer?
This will be information from credible sources. Do let me know.
Thanks!

Hello

There are several pages that praise moderate consumption of dairy
products as the best way of taking calcium. Beth Mansfield,
nutritionist is one:

http://www.caaws.ca/girlsatplay/experts/nutritionist/nutrition/protein.htm

A recent study by scientists at Sheffield University concluded that
'girls would do better to drink milk than take calcium supplements':

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1697357.stm

This claim is vehemently contested by the Vegan Society:

http://vegansociety.com/phpws/mod.php?mod=userpage&menu=304&page_id=7

The American Academy of Paediatricians also advocate dairy products,
especially low fat ones, as a good source of calcium:

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extnews/newsrelease/1999/121699/02pediat.htm

I quote Joyce Merkel, nutritionist specialist (North Dakota State
University Extension Service):

"With a calcium content of about 300 milligrams, a cup of low-fat milk
contains at least as much calcium as whole milk, but with up to 40
percent fewer calories," Merkel says. "Low-fat yogurt is also an
excellent source of calcium, with an 8-ounce serving containing from
300 up to about 400 milligrams of calcium."

Although calcium can be gleaned from vegetables, one has to eat a
relative mountain, compared to the concentrated amount in, for
example, a glass of low fat milk.

Another expert champions low fat dairy products:

http://thyroid.about.com/library/news/blcalcium.htm

Lynn Moss (MS,RD) "Think dairy and green. Low fat dairy products, such
as skim [sic] milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream and dark green, leafy
vegetables are the best food sources of calcium."

This article is also pro-dairy:

http://fcs.tamu.edu/health/Health_Education_Rural_Outreach/Health_Hints/2000/july-aug/julyaugust.htm#4

It also gives a warning about vegetables:

"Some vegetables, however, contain what is known as oxalate, which
binds calcium, blocking its absorption into your body. These
vegetables include beet greens, rhubarb, spinach, and Swiss chard."
(American Dietetic Association, 1998)

I hope this clarifies a somewhat controversial issue.

Best wishes

sim-ga


Search engine: Google

Search Terms

"calcium deficiency" "low fat dairy products" research

://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22calcium+deficiency%22+%22low+fat+dairy+products%22+research