There was no effect of calcium supplementation  on femoral neck or lumbar spine BMD .
There was no evidence of effect modification by baseline calcium intake , sex , ethnicity , physical activity or pubertal stage .
While there is a small effect of calcium supplementation in the upper limb , the increase in BMD which results is unlikely to result in a clinical ly significant decrease in fracture risk .
The results do not support the use of calcium supplementation  in healthy children as a public health intervention .
These results can not be extrapolated to children with medical conditions affecting bone metabolism
BACKGROUND Clinical trials have shown that  calcium supplementation in children can increase  bone mineral density ( BMD ) although this effect may not be maintained .
There has been no quantitative systematic review of this intervention .
To determine the effectiveness of calcium supplementation for improving BMD  in children .
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To determine if any effect varies by sex , pubertal stage , ethnicity or level of physical activity , and if any effect persists after supplementation is ceased .
Modifiable determinants of bone status in young women.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contributions of exercise , fitness , body composition , and calcium intake during adolescence to peak bone mineral density and bone structural measurements in young women . University Hospital and 75 healthy , white females in the longitudinal Penn State Young Women 's Health Study were included .  Body composition , total body , and hip bone mineral density ( BMD ) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry ( DXA ) , exercise scores by sports-exercise question naire during ages 12 - 18 years , and estimated aerobic capacity by bike ergometry .  Section modulus values ( a measurement of bending strength ) cross-sectional area ( CSA ) , subperiosteal width , and cortical thickness were calculated from DXA scan data for the femoral neck and femoral shaft .  Calcium intakes were calculated from 39 days of prospect i ve food records collected at 13 timepoints between ages 12 and 20 years ; supplemental calcium intakes were included . Section moduli at the femoral neck and shaft were correlated significantly with lean body mass , sports-exercise scores ( R(2 ) = 0.07 - 0.19 , p < 0.05 ) , and aerobic capacity ( R(2 ) = 0.06 - 0.57 , p < 0.05 ) . Sports-exercise scores correlated with BMD at the femoral neck and shaft . Average total daily calcium intake at age 12 - 20 years ranged from 486 to 1958 mg/day and was not significantly associated with total or regional peak BMD or bone structure measures at 20 years of age . It was shown that achievable levels of exercise and fitness have a favorable effect on BMD and section modulus of the femoral neck and femoral shaft in young adult women , whereas daily calcium intake of > 500 mg in female adolescents appears to have little , if any effect
There was no effect of calcium supplementation  on femoral neck or lumbar spine BMD .
There was no evidence of effect modification by baseline calcium intake , sex , ethnicity , physical activity or pubertal stage .
While there is a small effect of calcium supplementation in the upper limb , the increase in BMD which results is unlikely to result in a clinical ly significant decrease in fracture risk .
The results do not support the use of calcium supplementation  in healthy children as a public health intervention .
These results can not be extrapolated to children with medical conditions affecting bone metabolism
BACKGROUND Clinical trials have shown that  calcium supplementation in children can increase  bone mineral density ( BMD ) although this effect may not be maintained .
There has been no quantitative systematic review of this intervention .
To determine the effectiveness of calcium supplementation for improving BMD  in children .
.
To determine if any effect varies by sex , pubertal stage , ethnicity or level of physical activity , and if any effect persists after supplementation is ceased .