Calcium and dairy intake in bone health during adolescence

Michelle Fourie and Gerda Gericke, University of Pretoria

Adolescence, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is the period in human growth and development that occurs after childhood and before adulthood, from ages ten to 19 years.1 Adolescence is the critical period for bone accrual and the development of peak bone mass (PBM). PBM, the maximum amount of bone acquired at skeletal maturity, will determine fracture risk and in turn be a determining factor for osteoporosis later in life.