HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Dibba, B. Articles by Poskitt, E. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Dibba, B. Articles by Poskitt, E. M. Agricola Articles by Dibba, B. Articles by Poskitt, E. M.

Effect of calcium supplementation on bone mineral accretion in Gambian children accustomed to a low-calcium diet^1,2,3

¹ From MRC Keneba, The Gambia, and MRC Human Nutrition Research (formerly MRC Dunn Nutritional Laboratory), Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Background: Rural Gambian children have poor growth, delayed puberty, a low bone mineral content, and a low calcium intake.

Objective: We investigated the effect of a calcium supplement on bone mineral accretion in rural Gambian children.

Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 160 children (80 boys, 80 girls) aged 8.3–11.9 y. Bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), and BMC adjusted for bone width, body weight, and height (size-adjusted BMC) were measured at the midshaft and distal radius. Each child received either 1000 mg Ca/d (as calcium carbonate) or a placebo 5 d/wk for 12 mo. Supplementation increased calcium intake from 342 to 1056 mg/d (8.6 to 26.4 mmol/d).

Results: Calcium supplementation resulted in a higher BMC, BMD, and size-adjusted BMC ( difference ± SE): midshaft radius—BMC (3.0 ± 1.4%; P = 0.034), BMD (4.5 ± 0.9%; P 0.0001), and size-adjusted BMC (4.6 ± 0.9%; P 0.0001); distal radius—BMC (8.4 ± 3.2%; P = 0.009), BMD (7.0 ± 2.7%; P = 0.011), and size-adjusted BMC (5.5 ± 2.7%; P = 0.042). Supplementation had no significant effect on height, weight, or bone width at the midshaft radius or distal radius. At the end of the study, the calcium group had a significantly lower mean plasma osteocalcin concentration than the placebo group after adjustment for baseline concentration, sex, and pubertal status (-21.9 ± 6.5%; P = 0.001).

Conclusions: Increased calcium intake resulted in increased bone mineral status, possibly in association with a decreased bone remodeling space. Further studies are needed to determine whether an increased calcium intake has long-term benefits in Gambian children.

Key Words: Bone mineral accretion • calcium • children • Gambia • osteocalcin • single-photon absorptiometry

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. M. Fiorito, D. C. Mitchell, H. Smiciklas-Wright, and L. L. Birch Girls' Calcium Intake Is Associated with Bone Mineral Content During Middle Childhood J. Nutr., May 1, 2006; 136(5): 1281 - 1286. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Zhu, Q. Zhang, L. H. Foo, A. Trube, G. Ma, X. Hu, X. Du, C. T Cowell, D. R Fraser, and H. Greenfield Growth, bone mass, and vitamin D status of Chinese adolescent girls 3 y after withdrawal of milk supplementation Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2006; 83(3): 714 - 721. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. M. Ten Bruggencate, I. M. J. Bovee-Oudenhoven, M. L. G. Lettink-Wissink, M. B. Katan, and R. van der Meer Dietary Fructooligosaccharides Affect Intestinal Barrier Function in Healthy Men J. Nutr., January 1, 2006; 136(1): 70 - 74. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Prentice, F. Ginty, S. J. Stear, S. C. Jones, M. A. Laskey, and T. J. Cole Calcium Supplementation Increases Stature and Bone Mineral Mass of 16- to 18-Year-Old Boys J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2005; 90(6): 3153 - 3161. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Chevalley, J.-P. Bonjour, S. Ferrari, D. Hans, and R. Rizzoli Skeletal Site Selectivity in the Effects of Calcium Supplementation on Areal Bone Mineral Density Gain: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial in Prepubertal Boys J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2005; 90(6): 3342 - 3349. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Eastell Role of oestrogen in the regulation of bone turnover at the menarche J. Endocrinol., May 1, 2005; 185(2): 223 - 234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Zhu, X. Du, C. T Cowell, H. Greenfield, B. Blades, T. A Dobbins, Q. Zhang, and D. R Fraser Effects of school milk intervention on cortical bone accretion and indicators relevant to bone metabolism in Chinese girls aged 10-12 y in Beijing Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2005; 81(5): 1168 - 1175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. K. Bachrach Calcium and Peak Bone Mass: How Much Is Needed and When? IBMS BoneKEy, April 1, 2005; 2(4): 11 - 14. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-P. Bonjour Is Peripuberty the Most Opportune Time to Increase Calcium Intake in Healthy Girls? IBMS BoneKEy, March 1, 2005; 2(3): 6 - 11. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Lanou, S. E. Berkow, and N. D. Barnard Calcium, Dairy Products, and Bone Health in Children and Young Adults: A Reevaluation of the Evidence Pediatrics, March 1, 2005; 115(3): 736 - 743. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. P Dodiuk-Gad, G. S Rozen, G. Rennert, H. S Rennert, and S. Ish-Shalom Sustained effect of short-term calcium supplementation on bone mass in adolescent girls with low calcium intake Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2005; 81(1): 168 - 174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Matkovic, P. K Goel, N. E Badenhop-Stevens, J. D Landoll, B. Li, J. Z Ilich, M. Skugor, L. A Nagode, S. L Mobley, E.-J. Ha, et al. Calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in females from childhood to young adulthood: a randomized controlled trial Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2005; 81(1): 175 - 188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Chevalley, R. Rizzoli, D. Hans, S. Ferrari, and J.-P. Bonjour Interaction between Calcium Intake and Menarcheal Age on Bone Mass Gain: An Eight-Year Follow-Up Study from Prepuberty to Postmenarche J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., January 1, 2005; 90(1): 44 - 51. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Molgaard, B. L Thomsen, and K. F Michaelsen Effect of habitual dietary calcium intake on calcium supplementation in 12-14-y-old girls Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2004; 80(5): 1422 - 1427. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J Kalkwarf, J. C Khoury, J. Bean, and J. G Elliot Vitamin K, bone turnover, and bone mass in girls Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2004; 80(4): 1075 - 1080. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. L'Abbe, S. J. Whiting, and D. A. Hanley The Canadian Health Claim for Calcium, Vitamin D and Osteoporosis J. Am. Coll. Nutr., August 1, 2004; 23(4): 303 - 308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Matkovic, J. D. Landoll, N. E. Badenhop-Stevens, E.-Y. Ha, Z. Crncevic-Orlic, B. Li, and P. Goel Nutrition Influences Skeletal Development from Childhood to Adulthood: a Study of Hip, Spine, and Forearm in Adolescent Females J. Nutr., March 1, 2004; 134(3): 701S - 705. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. S Rozen, G. Rennert, R. P Dodiuk-Gad, H. S Rennert, N. Ish-Shalom, G. Diab, B. Raz, and S. Ish-Shalom Calcium supplementation provides an extended window of opportunity for bone mass accretion after menarche Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, November 1, 2003; 78(5): 993 - 998. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J Stear, A. Prentice, S. C Jones, and T. J Cole Effect of a calcium and exercise intervention on the bone mineral status of 16-18-y-old adolescent girls Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2003; 77(4): 985 - 992. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Antoniazzi, G. Zamboni, F. Bertoldo, S. Lauriola, F. Mengarda, A. Pietrobelli, and L. Tato Bone Mass at Final Height in Precocious Puberty after Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist with and without Calcium Supplementation J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2003; 88(3): 1096 - 1101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-C. Wang, P. B Crawford, M. Hudes, M. Van Loan, K. Siemering, and L. K Bachrach Diet in midpuberty and sedentary activity in prepuberty predict peak bone mass Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2003; 77(2): 495 - 503. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. J Kalkwarf, J. C Khoury, and B. P Lanphear Milk intake during childhood and adolescence, adult bone density, and osteoporotic fractures in US women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2003; 77(1): 257 - 265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. I. Barr Increased Dairy Product or Calcium Intake: Is Body Weight or Composition Affected in Humans? J. Nutr., January 1, 2003; 133(1): 245S - 248. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. E Black, S. M Williams, I. E Jones, and A. Goulding Children who avoid drinking cow milk have low dietary calcium intakes and poor bone health Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2002; 76(3): 675 - 680. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Dibba, A. Prentice, M. Ceesay, M. Mendy, S. Darboe, D. M Stirling, T. J Cole, and E. M. Poskitt Bone mineral contents and plasma osteocalcin concentrations of Gambian children 12 and 24 mo after the withdrawal of a calcium supplement Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2002; 76(3): 681 - 686. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M Weaver Calcium requirements of physically active people Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2000; 72(2): 579S - 584. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. P. Heaney Calcium, Dairy Products and Osteoporosis J. Am. Coll. Nutr., April 1, 2000; 19(90002): 83S - 99. [Abstract] [Full Text]