What Are The Benefits Of Calcium Enriched Foods?

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body. Adults younger than 50 years old need 1,000 mg of calcium a day and adults over age 50 need 1,200 mg of calcium a day, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. According to a study published in 2008 in Food and Nutrition Bulletin, adult men consume about 950 mg of calcium a day and adult women about 750 mg a day. Enriched calcium foods, such as cereals, breads, orange juice and milk, may help adults more adequately meet their calcium needs.

Improve Bone Mass in Young Girls

Adequate calcium intake during childhood is important for bone growth and health. Prepubescent children need 800 mg of calcium a day. Children today may be skipping milk to drink juice or soda. A 1997 study published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation looked into the effects of bone health in young girls after being supplemented with a calcium-enriched drink. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated 149 girls who were supplemented with a drink fortified with 850 mg of calcium or a placebo for one year. At the end of the study, the girls receiving the calcium-enriched drink had higher bone mineral densities than the girls receiving the placebo.

Calcium for the Lactose Intolerant

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the milk carbohydrate lactose due to a deficiency in the lactase enzyme, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders. Although there is a genetic predisposition for lactase deficiency, it does seem that after the age of 2 the production of lactase in most people decreases. When people with lactose intolerance consume foods with lactose, they experience abdominal pain and diarrhea. Calcium-fortified foods such as orange juice and cereals can help people with lactose intolerance meet their calcium needs without having to deal with the discomforts of drinking dairy products.

Prevent Osteoporosis in Women

Women are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis than men because they have lower bone density, live longer and take in less calcium, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. In addition, after menopause the rate of bone loss increases. Postmenopausal women not taking estrogen need 1,500 mg of calcium a day, says the Academy of Family Physicians. As previously mentioned, many women are only meeting half of their calcium needs. Women who replace their usual orange juice, cereal and bread with a calcium-fortified version may be able to more adequately meet their needs to help maintain bone health to prevent osteoporosis.