Research: Bone Health

Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health: Prevention is Key

Half of all older Americans will have bone-thinning osteoporosis or be at high risk of getting it by 2020 -- unless they start strengthening their bones now by getting more calcium, vitamin D and exercise, according to the Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis released this October. The report recommends lifestyle changes for all Americans including regular physical activity and getting enough calcium and vitamin D by drinking three glasses of lowfat milk each day as a part of a balanced diet. For more information, visit the Office of the Surgeon General or the National Dairy Council.

Milk May Ease Arthritis Pain

Recent research suggests that drinking milk may reduce the pain associated with knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis, commonly referred to as arthritis, is the most common joint disease and affects more than 80 percent of those ages 70 and older. In this observational study of 655 men and women age 50 and over, researchers looked at whether arthritis symptoms were related to consumption of dairy products, meat/poultry, fish, cereals, vegetables, tea and coffee. The researchers found that daily consumption of milk was associated with a lower frequency of pain, swelling and warmth -adding up to long-term arthritis relief.

Kacar C, et al. The association of milk consumption with the occurrence of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology. 2004; 22(4): 473-476.