THE ROLE OF DAIRY-PRODUCTS AND NON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN BONE-FRACTURES AMONG SCHOOL-AGE-CHILDREN

In order to assess consumption of the calcium rich dairy products, int ake of non alcoholic beverages and physical activity as risk factors f or bone fractures among schoolage children, a case control study was u ndertaken in Athens, Greece. During 1995 one hundred children 7 to 14 years old (74 boys and 26 girls) with single uncomplicated fractures o f the upper and lower extremities and no evidence of coexisting metabo lic condition affecting bone fragility were compared with 100 age-and gender-matched controls. The analysis was undertaken by modeling the d ata through conditional logistic regression. Several indicators point to an increased risk of fractures among physically active children, al though none of the individual variables was statistically significant. Somatometric factors were not related to fractures, although children with more advanced stage of development at Tanner's scale were appare ntly al increased risk. Intake of dairy products and of carbonated non cola beverages was not related to the occurrence of fractures. By con trast, intake of non carbonated beverages, mainly fruit juices, and of cola beverages were significantly associated with elevated risks of f ractures [for an increase of one-half can per day, the odds ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals were 1.6 (1.2 to 2.3) and 1.7 (1. 2 to 2.6) respectively]. In the absence of other common elements betwe en cola and non carbonated beverages the positive associations of thes e beverages, with bone fractures probably reflect the increased rehydr ation needs of active children who are also at high risk for injuries.