From
the "Physicians
Commitee For Responsible Medicine" magazine, Spring
1999 (volume VIII, number 2)
“Milk
Does Not Protect
Against Bone Breaks” Ad
Americans
did a double-take on PCRM’s ad, which appeared on subway
trains and station platforms, in newspapers, and on the Internet
in March. Yes, it’s true. The Harvard Nurses’ Health
Study, including 77,761 women, aged 34 to 59 and followed for
12 years, showed that those who got more calcium from milk actually
had slightly, but significantly, more fractures, compared to
those who drank little or no milk.1
A
1994 study of elderly men and women in Sydney, Australia, showed
much the same thing—higher dairy product consumption was
associated with increased fracture risk. Those with the highest
dairy product consumption had approximately double the risk
of hip fracture, compared to those with the lowest consumption.2
This
does not mean that calcium is not important. But it does mean
that dairy products do not protect against bone fractures, according
to the best evidence we have. Good nondairy sources of calcium
include fortified orange or apple juice, green leafy vegetables,
beans, and calcium supplements. And, no, you don’t need
to eat six cups of kale. There are plenty of calcium choices.
Just as important, reducing sodium (salt) intake, avoiding animal
protein, and quitting smoking helps your body keep calcium where
it belongs instead of losing it through the kidneys into the
urine.
1.
Feskanich D, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA. Milk, dietary
calcium, and bone fractures in women: a 12-year prospective
study. Am J Publ Health 1997;87:992-7.
2. Cumming RG, Klineberg RJ. Case-control study
of risk factors for hip fractures in the elderly. Am J Epidemiol
1994;139:493-503.
