Teens, Bones & Calcium

American Fitness, Jan, 2001

According to the National Dairy Council's newsletter, Nutrition and Health News Alert, a recent study raises concern that, due to an overconsumption of soft drinks, too many teens may not be getting the nutrients they need to help build strong bones. Researchers looked at the relationship between soft drink consumption and the risk of fracture in 460 teens.

The results showed active teens who consumed more soft drinks were at a higher risk for fractures than those who drank fewer soft drinks. The authors note that teen soft drink consumption has doubled (and possibly tripled), while milk consumption has decreased. Additionally, they mention that while low bone mineral density or incidence of fracture may be due to a combination of genetic, hormonal or environmental factors, diet may also be related. For more information, contact the Nutrition and Health News Bureau at (312) 988-2494.