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 .
A randomized double-blind controlled calcium supplementation trial, and bone and height acquisition in children.
There is limited information relating Ca intake to bone and height acquisition among Oriental children who consume little or even no milk . The present controlled study investigated the acquisition of bone mass and height of Chinese children with an initial Ca intake of approximately 567 mg/d who were supplemented to about 800 mg/d . Eighty-four 7-year-old Hong Kong Chinese children underwent an 18-month r and omized , double-blind , controlled Ca-supplementation trial . The children were r and omized to receive either 300 mg elemental Ca or a placebo tablet daily . Bone mass of the distal one-third radius was measured by single-photon absorptiometry , lumbar spine and femoral neck were determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry . Measurements were repeated 6-monthly . Baseline serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration and physical activity were also assessed . Baseline Ca intakes of the study group and controls were respectively 571 ( SD 326 ) and 563 ( SD 337 ) mg/d . There were no significant differences in baseline serum 25-hydroxycholecalciferol concentration ( P = 0.71 ) and physical activity ( P = 0.36 ) between the study and control groups . After 18 months the study group had significantly greater increases in lumbar-spinal bone mineral content ( 20.9 v. 16.34 % ; P = 0.035 ) , lumbar-spinal area ( 11.16 v. 8.71 % ; P = 0.049 ) , and a moderately greater increment in areal bone mineral density of the radius ( 7.74 v. 6.00 % ; P = 0.081 ) when compared with the controls . The results confirm a positive effect of Ca on bone mass of the spine and radius but no effects on femoral-neck and height increase . A longer trial is warranted to confirm a positive Ca effect during childhood that may modify future peak bone mass
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 .