USA – To build strong bones, children need exercise, sunshine – and a dairy-free diet.

That is the startling claim made by a US health organisation in the Pediatrics journal. In the article, nutritionist Amy Joy Lanou and co-authors say that dairy products do not promote bone health in children and young adults. They agree that physical activity has a positive impact on bone health, but believe evidence linking bone health with dairy product consumption is weak, at best.

Dr Lanou said: “Under scientific scrutiny, the support for the milk myth crumbles. This analysis of 58 published studies shows that the evidence on which US dairy intake recommendations are based is scant. A clear majority of the studies we examined for this review found no relationship between dairy or dietary calcium intake and measures of bone health. In the remaining reports, the evidence was sketchy. To build strong bones and healthy bodies, children need exercise, sunshine, and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables that helps them maintain a healthy body weight.” Dr Lanou and co-authors Susan Berkow and Neal Barnard advocate a vegetarian diet. They explained that boosting consumption of milk or other dairy products was not necessarily the best way to provide the minimal calcium intake of at least 400 milligrams per day. Instead, they recommend other calcium sources, such as fortified orange juice, cooked kale or turnip greens, instant porridge oats, tofu and broccoli.