Increased milk consumption may improve body composition and bone health among pre-pubertal children

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to examine linear growth, body composition and bone mineral status of pre-pubertal children participating in the “Milk for Schools programme” over one year. The control group was recruited from schools that were not participating. This prospective study followed 118 pre pubertal children (5-10 years old) over one year. Body composition as well as whole body (WB) headless bone mineral content-(WB-BMC), bone mineral density (WB-BMD), lumbar spine BMC and BMD were measured with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (Discovery A, Hologic, WI, USA). Anthropometric data including height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were collected. The total sample consisted of 58 children in the control group (C’s) and 60 in the milk group. At baseline, the milk group was significantly older, taller and had higher WB-BMD. There were no significant differences between the groups over one year for change in height, weight, BMI z-score, WC, WB-fat and lean body mass (LBM). There was a significant treatment*time interaction for WB area (p = 0.046) and a marginally significant on WB-BMC (p = 0.051) and BMC z-score (p = 0.093). The changes in WB-BMC, WB-BMD and z-score over one year were significantly associated with change in LBM (p < 0.001). WB fat mass was significantly associated with WB-BMC (p < 0.001). LBM and WB fat mass significantly predicted children’s bone health. The changes in WB- BMC and WB area were greater in the milk group over the year, with the BMC z-score increasing in the milk group but remaining stable in the controls. Keywords: Milk; Children; Bone; Body Composition; Food Frequency Questionnaire