Recommending calcium to reduce lead toxicity in children: A critical review

Assertions that adequate or supplemental calcium intake can reduce lead abs orption in children are based on liberal extrapolation from animal studies, experiments with human adults, and cross-sectional studies of children tha t have a variety of methodologic weaknesses. Without stronger supporting ev idence, statements that diet can ameliorate the deleterious effects of envi ronmental lead could provide a false sense of efficacy and divert efforts f rom lead abatement and from behavioral modifications that might have more i mpact.