<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Objective</h3><p>To evaluate the effects of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density in children.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Methods</h3><p>The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were systematically searched. The retrieve inception date was between October 2001 and October 2019. Two reviewers independently performed the data extraction and assessed methodology quality. Studies were limited to randomized clinical trials comparing calcium supplement with a placebo for bone mineral density in children. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3><p>A total of 6 randomized controlled trials involving 408 participants (calcium supplementation group: 198; placebo group: 210) were finally included in this study. The meta-analysis revealed that, compared with placebos, calcium supplementation had no effect on the bone mineral densities [the whole-body: SMD with CI = 0.43 (−0.05–0.91), <italic>P</italic>=0.08, <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 75%; the 2nd–4th lumbar vertebrae: SMD with 95% CI = 0.27 (−0.17 to 0.70), <italic>P</italic> = 0.07, <italic>I</italic><sup>2</sup> = 0%)]. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the results of the whole-body bone mineral density were unstable and that the bone density of the 2nd–4th lumbar spine was robust.</p></sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The results of this meta-analysis suggested that calcium supplementation did not improve bone mineral density in children. However, there continues to be a need for more high-quality studies to verify this fact in the future.</p></sec>
</abstract>

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density in children.
MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were systematically searched. The retrieve inception date was between October 2001 and October 2019. Two reviewers independently performed the data extraction and assessed methodology quality. Studies were limited to randomized clinical trials comparing calcium supplement with a placebo for bone mineral density in children. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).
ResultsA total of 6 randomized controlled trials involving 408 participants (calcium supplementation group: 198; placebo group: 210) were finally included in this study. The meta-analysis revealed that, compared with placebos, calcium supplementation had no effect on the bone mineral densities [the whole-body: SMD with CI = 0.43 (−0.05–0.91), P=0.08, I2 = 75%; the 2nd–4th lumbar vertebrae: SMD with 95% CI = 0.27 (−0.17 to 0.70), P = 0.07, I2 = 0%)]. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the results of the whole-body bone mineral density were unstable and that the bone density of the 2nd–4th lumbar spine was robust.
ConclusionsThe results of this meta-analysis suggested that calcium supplementation did not improve bone mineral density in children. However, there continues to be a need for more high-quality studies to verify this fact in the future.

Association between calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital

Frontiers of Nursing

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of calcium supplementation on bone mineral density in children.
MethodsThe PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library were...

Inclusive RCTs	Population	Sample size		Ages (years)	Intervention measures		Intervention duration (years)	Dose (mg)	Percentage of lost visits (%)	Outcome indicators

		Control group	Intervention group		I	C
Cheng 2005¹²	Healthy children	41	39	10–12	Calcium	Placebo	2	1000	18.7	Whole-body BMD
Anuradha 2012¹⁴	Healthy children	70	69	8–12	Calcium	Multivitamin tablets	1	500	1.8	Whole-body BMD
Lambert 2008¹⁰	Healthy children	37	36	11–12	Calcium fortified fruit drinks	Regular fruit drinks	1	792	7.2	Whole-body and 2nd–4th lumbar vertebrae BMD
Bonjour 2001¹³	Healthy children	62	54	7–9.3	Calcium	Placebo	3–5	850	24.1	2nd–4th lumbar vertebrae BMD

Association between calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Aug 18, 2021

Page range: 169 - 176

Received: Jul 14, 2020

Accepted: Aug 17, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fon-2021-0019

Keywords
children, calcium, bone mineral density, meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial

© 2021 Jin-Ping Gao et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Figure 1

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Basic characteristics of included RCTs.

Association between calcium supplementation and bone mineral density in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Article Category: Original article

Published Online: Aug 18, 2021

Page range: 169 - 176

Received: Jul 14, 2020

Accepted: Aug 17, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fon-2021-0019

Keywordschildren, calcium, bone mineral density, meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial

© 2021 Jin-Ping Gao et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Basic characteristics of included RCTs.

Keywords
children, calcium, bone mineral density, meta-analysis, randomized controlled trial