DO DAIRY-PRODUCTS IMPROVE BONE DENSITY IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Previous studies have shown that when calcium is supplemented in adole scents who normally consume less than 1000 mg calcium, bone mineral ac cretion improves between 1 and 5%. This increment in bone accretion is improved up to 10% when dairy products are used as a source of supple mental calcium in adolescent girls. Because the addition of dairy food s is a simple, inexpensive intervention that carries no risk and becau se it substantially increases bone accretion with potential long-term benefits, adolescents should be encouraged to include dairy products i n their diet.