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Combined effects of physical activity and calcium on bone health in children and adolescents: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

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Abstract

Background

A better understanding of the role of exercise and nutrition in bone health is significant for preventing osteoporosis. The aim of this review was to assess the combined effects of physical activity and calcium intake on improving bone mineral density in children and adolescents.

Methods

A search of electronic databases (MedLine, ISI Web of Science, Science Direct) and the literature references were performed. Randomized controlled trials published between 1997 and 2017, evaluating the effect of both physical activity and calcium intake intervention on bone mineral density or bone mineral content among children aged 3–18 years were selected. The Improved Jadad Rating Scale was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. Study characteristics were summarized in accordance with the review’s PICO criteria. Changes in bone mineral content were detected at several different bone sites.

Results

A total of nine studies involving 908 participants were included in this review. The combined intervention of physical activity and calcium increased bone mineral in children and adolescents, especially when baseline calcium intake level was low and among participants on the stage of early puberty.

Conclusions

Regular physical activity combined with high level of calcium intake is beneficial for bone health in young population. Further research is needed to evaluate the dose–response associations and long-term effects of the interaction between physical activity and calcium intake.

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Funding

This research was supported by the National Institution for Nutrition and Health and Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This work was funded by the National Scientific and Technological Basic Resources Investigation Program “Research and application of nutrition and health system for children aged 0–18 years in China” (2017FY101107).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institution for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Nanwei Road, West District, Bei**g, China

    ** District, Bei**g, China

    ** Yang

  2. China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Capital Medical University, No. 119 South Fourth Ring West Road, Fengtai District, Bei**g, China

    Yi Zhai

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  1. ** Yang
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  2. Yi Zhai
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  3. Jian Zhang
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  4. **g-Yi Chen
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  5. Dan Liu
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  6. Wen-Hua Zhao
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Contributions

XY contributed to the data abstraction, analysis plan, and manuscript draft and was responsible for eligible papers assessment and subsequent drafts. YZ, JYC and DL independently performed the selection of articles and identification of references. JZ was responsible for eligible papers assessment and subsequent drafts. WHZ was responsible for the design of the review protocol and interpretation of the results. All authors were involved in the conception of the review, the revision of the manuscript and finally approval of the version to be published. This work should be attributed to the National Institution for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Department of science and technology management, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Correspondence to Wen-Hua Zhao.

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Yang, X., Zhai, Y., Zhang, J. et al. Combined effects of physical activity and calcium on bone health in children and adolescents: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. World J Pediatr 16, 356–365 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-019-00330-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-019-00330-7

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