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 .
Effects of dairy products on bone and body composition in pubertal girls.
OBJECTIVE To study the effect of calcium supplementation with dairy products on the bone and body composition of pubertal girls . DESIGN R and omized control study with 12-month follow-up . SETTING General community . SUBJECTS Forty-eight white girls whose mean age was 11 years and sexual development at Tanner stage 2 . INTERVENTION One group 's diet was supplemented with dairy products to the recommended dietary allowance of 1200 mg calcium daily . The other group ate their usual diet . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Bone mineral content and density were measured at the radius , femoral neck , lumbar spine , and total body bone mineral by single-photon and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the start of the study and after 3 , 6 , 9 , and 12 months . Body composition ( lean body mass and body fat ) was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry at the same intervals . Serum calcium , phosphate , 25-hydroxyvitamin D , 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D , alkaline phosphatase , magnesium , and albumin concentrations were determined at the start and end of the study . The urinary calcium/creatinine ratio and hydroxyproline concentration were also determined . RESULTS The dairy group had higher intakes of calcium , phosphate , vitamin D , and protein than control subjects . The dairy group had significantly greater increases during the 1-year study in bone mineral density at the lumbar spine bones ( 22.8 % + /- 6.9 % vs 12.9 % + /- 8.3 % ) and in total body bone mineral ( 14.2 % + /- 7.0 % vs 7.6 % + /- 6.0 % ) than control subjects . Dietary calcium , phosphate , vitamin D , and protein intakes were associated with the lumbar bone density and total body bone calcium . There were no differences in serum or urinary biochemical values between the two groups at the start or end of the study . CONCLUSIONS Young girls whose dietary calcium intake was provided primarily by dairy products at or above the recommended dietary allowances had an increased rate of bone mineralization . Increased intake of dairy foods did not increase overall total or saturated fat intake and was not associated with excessive weight gain or increased body fat
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 .