Study: Milk Does Not Help Build Strong Bones

[Apoptosis]

Now this is something you don't hear every day.

A new study published in the March issue of the journal 'Pediatrics' indicates that dairy foods such as milk have little to do with the development of strong bones in children and young adults. The study was conducted by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

The group released a statement saying that 'Under scientific scrutiny, the support for the milk myth crumbles,' the statement reads. 'This analysis ... shows that the evidence on which the U.S. dairy intake recommendations are based is scant.'

Instead, the study claims that physical activity early in life is a better indicator of strong bone development.

This study was actually a review of 37 previous studies on the subject. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine said that 27 of the 37 studies showed no correlation between a high intake of dairy products and bone health in children or young adults.

The dairy industry fired back sharply and cited the bias of the PCRM which is very pro-animal rights. In fact, the PCRM advocates a vegan diet and opposes all forms of animal research. Vegans consume no meat or animal products such as eggs, cheese or milk in their diets.

The American Dairy Council immediately contested the group's findings. It's web site touts studies done by its researchers which 'indicate that milk intake during childhood and adolescence is associated with greater bone mass and protection against fractures in later years.'

Got milk? Does it matter?

For years in college as a biology major I heard cow's milk is a waste of time/money to use and may do more harm than good. Always intersting to see new medical reports come out.

[Amy]

I think that what we need is a non-biased group conducting the study. Both groups in my eyes have little credibility because they are so strongly biased. One thing I learned in my statistics class is that you can take any data and twist it to mean what you want it to. It's like any drug company that does its own studies...like, is cholesterol really bad? My grandma has had cholesterol over 300 for years, and last year found that her arteries are perfectly clear...things that make you go, "hmmmm"