Most older children and teens are not getting the 1,300 mg of calcium needed each day to build strong bones. And adolescents who may be lactose intolerant are even less likely to get enough calcium.1,2
Getting enough calcium is a particular concern for children and teens because bones grow the fastest during puberty.1,2 By the time teens finish their growth spurts at around 17 years old, 90% of their adult bone mass is already established.1 Building strong, healthy bones early in life may help protect against bone loss and osteoporosis later in life.
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, DHHS. (2006). Lactose Intolerance: Information for Health Care Providers (05-5305B). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office. [top]
- Suchy, F. J., Brannon, P. M., Carpenter, T. O., Fernandez, J. R., Gilsanz, V., Gould, J. B., et al. (2010). NIH consensus development conference statement: Lactose intolerance and health. NIH Consensus and State-of-the-Science Statements, 27(2), 1–27. PMID 20186234 [top]