Skip to content
en
MYR

Learn More about Bone Health For Kids

Why is bone health so important during childhood?

Bone tissue grows rapidly throughout childhood, with particularly important gains around puberty and adolescence. If a child consistently falls short on bone-building nutrients or is very inactive, the body may have less opportunity to build and strengthen bone during this high-growth period. [1,8]

Strong bones do more than reduce fracture risk. They support movement, protect internal organs and provide the framework that allows children to run, jump and play confidently. Building healthy habits early can also make it easier to maintain bone health into adulthood. [1,3]

How can parents add more calcium to everyday meals?

Dairy foods such as milk, yogurt and cheese are convenient sources of calcium, protein and phosphorus, and some products are fortified with vitamin D. Regular dairy intake during growth has been associated with higher bone mineral content in controlled studies. [4,10]

Children who consume little or no dairy can still get calcium from other foods. Useful options include calcium-fortified plant drinks, calcium-set tofu, beans and lentils, leafy green vegetables, sesame seeds and canned fish with soft edible bones. Check labels because the calcium content of fortified foods can vary. [3,13,14]

Easy meal and snack ideas

  • Milk or a calcium-fortified alternative with breakfast.
  • Yogurt with fruit, oats or whole-grain cereal.
  • Cheese cubes with fruit or vegetable sticks in a lunchbox.
  • A smoothie made with milk or a fortified plant drink plus fruit.
  • Tofu, beans or lentils added to rice dishes, soups, noodles or wraps.
  • Leafy greens added to omelettes, pasta, soup or stir-fries.

These small swaps can make bone-building foods part of normal family routines without turning meals into a daily nutrition project. [3,9,11]

5 simple habits that support strong bones in kids
  1. Include a calcium-rich food or fortified alternative at several meals and snacks across the day.
  2. Include vitamin D food sources regularly and ask a healthcare professional if deficiency is a concern.
  3. Serve a varied diet with enough protein, vegetables, fruit, whole grains and healthy fats.
  4. Build active play into the daily routine, including running, jumping or other weight-bearing movement.
  5. Use supplements to fill a genuine gap - not as a replacement for a balanced diet or active lifestyle.

References

1. Proia P, Amato A, Drid P, Korovljev D, Vasto S, Baldassano S. The impact of diet and physical activity on bone health in children and adolescents. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2021;12:704647. doi:10.3389/fendo.2021.704647.

2. Moreno M, Furtner F, Rivara F. Vitamin D and bone health. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012;166(7):684.

3. Redondo-Cuevas L, Sanchis-Chordà J, Codoñer-Franch P. Child nutrition and bone health. J Child Sci. 2018;8:e67-e74.

4. Cuadrado-Soto E, López-Sobaler AM, Jiménez-Ortega AI, Aparicio A, Bermejo L, Hernández-Ruíz Á, et al. Usual dietary intake, nutritional adequacy and food sources of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D of Spanish children aged one to <10 years: findings from the EsNuPI study. Nutrients. 2020;12(6):1787. doi:10.3390/nu12061787.

5. Jinnah B. A comprehensive review of minerals and vitamins synergy: impacts on childhood and adolescent bone development. Am J Health Med Nurs Pract. 2023.

6. Nadar R, Uday S. A clinician’s guide to vitamin D and bone health in children. Paediatr Child Health. 2021;31:364-370.

7. Karimian P, Ebrahimi H, Jafarnejad S, Delavar M. Effects of vitamin D on bone density in healthy children: a systematic review. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2022;11:870-878. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2411_20.

8. Prentice A, Schoenmakers I, Laskey MA, De Bono S, Ginty F, Goldberg GR. Nutrition and bone growth and development. Proc Nutr Soc. 2006;65:348-360.

9. Abrams SA. Bone health in school-age children: effects of nutritional intake on outcomes. Front Nutr. 2021;8:773425. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.773425.

10. De Lamas C, De Castro M, Gil-Campos M, Gil Á, Couce ML, Leis R. Effects of dairy product consumption on height and bone mineral content in children: a systematic review of controlled trials. Adv Nutr. 2019;10(Suppl 2):S88-S96.

11. Lo HWH, Zhang F, Mahajan A, Darlington G, Duncan AM, Haines J, et al. Dietary intake and food sources of calcium and vitamin D in young children in the Guelph Family Health Study. Int Dairy J. 2024;105980. doi:10.1016/j.idairyj.2024.105980.

12. Christopoulos M, Klentrou P. Exercise and nutrition for building strong bones. Front Young Minds. 2025;13:1494421. doi:10.3389/frym.2025.1494421.

13. Ministry of Health Malaysia. Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Malaysia 2017. Nutrition Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Available from: https://hq.moh.gov.my/nutrition/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FA-Buku-RNI.pdf

14. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium Fact Sheet for Consumers. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Calcium-Consumer/

15. National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Consumers. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-Consumer/

16. American Academy of Pediatrics. HealthyChildren.org. Energy Out: Daily Physical Activity Recommendations. Available from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/fitness/Pages/Energy-Out-Daily-Physical-Activity-Recommendations.aspx

Drawer Title
Similar Products