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 .
Double-blind, controlled calcium supplementation and bone mineral accretion in children accustomed to a low-calcium diet.
A r and omized , double-blind , controlled calcium supplementation trial was conducted for 18 mo to determine its effects on bone acquisition and height increment in 162 7-y-old Chinese children ( 87 boys and 75 girls ) with habitually low calcium intakes ( 280 mg/d ) . Distal one-third radial bone mineral content ( BMC ) , area bone density ( BMC /bone width ) , and height were evaluated every 6 mo . Baseline dietary intakes , serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol , and physical activity  were determined . The study group received 300 mg Ca/d as calcium carbonate ; control subjects received placebo tablets . After 18 mo the study group had significantly greater gains in BMC ( 16.5 % vs 13.97 % ; P = 0.02 ) and BMC /bone width ( 9.45 % vs 6.31 % ; P = 0.0008 ) than the control subjects . The findings confirm a positive effect of calcium intake on bone acquisition but no effect on height increment . Whether a higher bone mass attained at age 8 - 9 y would be maintained and beneficial to future peak bone mass requires longitudinal investigation . Further study is warranted to determine calcium requirements for Chinese children
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 .