Editing Bone (section)

==== Calcium ====
Strong bones during our youth is essential for preventing osteoporosis and bone fragility as we age. The importance of insuring factors that could influence increases in BMD while lowering our risks for further bone degradation is necessary during our childhood as these factors lead to a supportive and healthy lifestyle/bone health. Up till the age of 30, the bone stores that we have will ultimately start to decrease as we surpass this age. Influencing factors that can help us have larger stores and higher amounts of BMD will allow us to see less harmful results as we reach older adulthood.<ref name="Gordon_2000">{{cite book | vauthors = Gordon RJ, Misra M, Mitchell DM | chapter = Osteoporosis and Bone Fragility in Children |date=2000 | veditors = Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, Boyce A | title = Endotext | chapter-url = https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK593436/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |place=South Dartmouth (MA) |publisher=MDText.com, Inc. |pmid=37490575 }}</ref>

The issue of having fragile bones during our childhood leads to an increase in certain disorders and conditions such as [[juvenile osteoporosis]], though it is less common to see, the necessity for a healthy routine especially when it comes to bone development is essential in our youth.<ref name="Pan_2020">{{cite journal | vauthors = Pan K, Zhang C, Yao X, Zhu Z | title = Association between dietary calcium intake and BMD in children and adolescents | journal = Endocrine Connections | volume = 9 | issue = 3 | pages = 194–200 | date = January 2020 | pmid = 31990673 | pmc = 7040863 | doi = 10.1530/EC-19-0534 }}</ref> Children that naturally have lower bone mineral density have a lower quality of life and therefore lead a life that is less fulfilling and uncomfortable. Factors such as increases in Calcium intake has been shown to increase BMD stores. Studies have shown that increasing calcium stores whether that be through supplementation or intake via foods and beverages such as leafy greens and milk have pushed the notion that prepuberty or even early pubertal children will see increases in BMD with the addition of increase Calcium intake.<ref name="Pan_2020" />

Another research study goes on to show that long-term calcium intake has been proven to significantly contribute to overall BMD in children without certain conditions or disorders.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Closa-Monasterolo R, Zaragoza-Jordana M, Ferré N, Luque V, Grote V, Koletzko B, Verduci E, Vecchi F, Escribano J | title = Adequate calcium intake during long periods improves bone mineral density in healthy children. Data from the Childhood Obesity Project | journal = Clinical Nutrition | volume = 37 | issue = 3 | pages = 890–896 | date = June 2018 | pmid = 28351509 | doi = 10.1016/j.clnu.2017.03.011 }}</ref> This data shows that ensuring adequate calcium intake in children reinforces the structure and rate at which bones will begin to densify. Further detailing how structuring a strong nutritional plan with adequate amounts of Calcium sources can lead to strong bones but also can be a worth-while strategy into preventing further damage or degradation of bone stores as we age.

The connection between Calcium intake & BMD and its effects on youth as a whole is a very world-wide issue and has been shown to affect different ethnicities in a variety of differing ways. In a recent study,<ref name="Pan_2020" /> there was a strong correlation between calcium intake and BMD across a variety of diverse populations of children and adolescence ultimately coming to the conclusion that fundamentally, achieving optimal bone health is necessary for providing our youth with the ability to undergo hormonal changes as well. They found in a study of over 10,000 children ages 8–19 that in females, African Americans, and the 12-15 adolescent groups that at 2.6-2.8g/kg of body weight, they began to see a decrease in BMD. They elaborate on this by determining that this is strongly influenced by a lower baseline in calcium intake throughout puberty. Genetic factors have also been shown to influence lower acceptance of calcium stores.<ref name="Pan_2020" />

Ultimately, the window that youth have for accruing and building resilient bones is very minimal. Being able to consistently meet calcium needs while also engaging in weight-bearing exercise is essential for building a strong initial bone foundation at which to build upon. Being able to reach our daily value of 1300&nbsp;mg for ages 9–18 <ref name="Gordon_2000" /> is becoming more and more necessary and as we progress in health, the chance that osteoporosis and other factors such as bone fragility or potential for stunted growth can be greatly reduced through these resources, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and healthier lifestyle.