Raising truly healthy kids: Your daughter’s bones

By Barb Jarmoska

If you think osteoporosis begins with menopause, think again. Based on several research studies, calcium supplements for young girls are every bit as important as taking calcium later in life. About 35 percent of a mature adult’s bone mass is built during puberty. For girls as young as 8, getting too little calcium can increase the risk of brittle bones later in life.

A recent study—among the first to follow girls from childhood into early adulthood—showed that during girls’ growth spurts, taking calcium supplements pays big dividends. The first growth spurt begins around age 8 and the biggest spurt happens between the ages of 11 and 15.

The study followed more than 500 girls over a seven-year period. At the onset, the girls’ ages ranged from 8 to 13. Group A had an average daily calcium intake of 830 milligrams, exclusively from food. Group B consumed equal calcium in the diet plus an additional 670 mg from supplements. The girls who took the supplements wound up with a 4-percent higher bone density. That may not sound like much, but it brings a crucial advantage later in life when bones begin to erode.

“Girls ages 8 to 11 should be sure to get 1,000 mg of calcium each day,” says Velimir Matkovic, lead researcher and a professor of physical medicine, rehabilitation and nutrition at Ohio State University. “And teens should get up to 1,500 mg daily during the major growth phase from age 11 – 15.”

In addition, the benefits provided by calcium supplements can show up long before mid life. In another study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 354 girls, ages 8-13, were all given two glasses of milk per day. Half were also given 1,000 milligrams of supplemental calcium. The girls on the supplement not only developed stronger bones as evidenced by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans, they also suffered fewer fractures. Over the course of the 7-year study, 20 girls in the placebo group broke bones versus nine girls in the calcium supplement group.

Although these studies focused exclusively on calcium, Freshlife recommends that the supplement you choose for your daughter also contain magnesium, as the two minerals serve as companion electrolytes. If your daughter can swallow a tablet, one (age 8-10) or 2 (age 11+) of Freshlife’s Calcium & Magnesium Citrates is a perfect choice. Chewable cal/mag wafers are also available at Freshlife in both 125 mg and 250 mg strengths.

Providing your daughter with a calcium supplement during her growing years could help to prevent a broken bone now, and perhaps a broken hip in years to come. And because strong bones and healthy kids need far more than calcium, be sure to talk to one of the Freshlife Wellness Coaches about other opportunities to teach your daughter to embrace her best health!