Milk components and bone health
2002
Weaver, C.M. | Zhao, Y. (Purdue Univ., West Lafayette (USA). Dept. of Foods and Nutrition)
Milk contains a package of nutrients that promote bone health. It is difficult to achieve calcium requirements without liberal consumption of dairy products using traditional foods. Calcium from other sources exists in low density and is often less bioavailable from staple foods. Calcium is the nutrient most likely to be deficient of the bone building nutrients. Adequate dietary calcium is important to achieving peak bone mass during growth and to maintain bone mass in later years. Fracture risk associated with osteoporosis is inversely related to bone mineral density. Phosphorus and magnesium, like calcium, are important minerals in bone. While magnesium ingestion is frequently below required levels of intake, dietary phosphorus is rarely deficient because of its abundance in processed foods and cola beverages. Magnesium is important to bone strength through controlling crystal size. Milk proteins are anabolic nutrients. They have been associated with an increased level of serum IGF-1 during growth which had a favorable effect on bone mass and also help maintain bone in the elderly. All proteins are calciuretic; milk proteins are less so than proteins from meat, but more so than soy proteins. Some milk protein fractions or peptides can enhance calcium absorption at concentrations considerably higher than those found in fluid milk. This attribute can be exploited as a functional food. Milk lipids have been associated with an increase in bone formation rate. When milk is a vehicle for vitamin D fortification, parathyroid hormone levels are better maintained, especially in the elderly, which suppresses bone resorption. Milk intervention trials have more positive results than those using single nutrients, quite likely due to the combination of nutrients and biologically active components.
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