Many Americans are not drinking enough milk to get the calcium necessary to build and maintain strong bones, the National Dairy Council says. While chocolate milk is a popular alternative to unflavored milk for children, scientists have questioned whether the chocolate flavoring interferes with calcium absorption to reduce dietary intake. Understanding the facts will help you decide if chocolate milk is a nutritious source of calcium for you or your child.
Function
Calcium is a mineral required for the development of bones and teeth and proper functioning of the muscles, nerves and heart, according to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. Since the body cannot produce calcium, you have to absorb the mineral through food sources, including milk, the center adds. Both unflavored milk and chocolate milk are fortified with nine essential nutrients -- potassium, protein, vitamins A, D and B12, niacin, riboflavin and calcium -- to help the body absorb calcium and prevent bone loss, the National Dairy Council notes.
Significance
Chocolate milk contains up to 0.6 percent oxalic acid, a naturally occurring compound in cocoa beans that may reduce calcium absorption, the National Dairy Council says. While oxalic acid is known to combine with intestinal calcium, reducing calcium absorption in the bloodstream, scientific evidence suggests levels of oxalic acid in chocolate milk are too low to impair absorption, the MayoClinic.com notes. A study by Robert R. Recker and colleagues in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found calcium absorption from chocolate milk was similar to that from unflavored milk and other dairy products.
Misconceptions
Parents are hesitant to encourage their children to consume chocolate milk because of concerns of added sugar and calories. An 8-oz. serving of low-fat chocolate milk has about 4 tsp. of added sugar, the National Diary Council says. A study by Mary M. Murphy and colleagues in the April 2008 issue of "The American Dietetic Association" found milk drinkers, whether flavored or plain milk drinkers, do not have an increased risk of a higher body mass index, a measure of body fat, than children who do not drink milk. Similarly, concerns that the added sugar found in chocolate milk can lead to tooth decay or hyperactivity in children have not been substantiated, the National Dairy Council notes.
Benefits
Calcium in combination with vitamin D can help prevent bone loss, reduce premenstrual syndrome symptoms and help lower blood pressure and high cholesterol, the University of Maryland Medical Center says. In particular, chocolate milk has been shown to help children drink more milk overall. A study by Rachel K. Johnson and colleagues in a June 2002 issue of "The American Dietetic Association" found children who consumed more than 1 cup of flavored milk, including chocolate milk, each day had a total milk intake that was higher than children who did not consume flavored milk.
Expert Advice
Given the important role of calcium in the body and the lack of evidence to support concerns over added sugar and fat intake, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises consumption of flavored milk as a healthy source of calcium for children. In adults, the MayoClinic.com recommends limiting the intake of oxalic acid for those with kidney stones caused by the compound.
References
- National Dairy Council: Flavored Milk in Perspective
- Centers for Disease Prevention and Control: Calcium and Bone Health
- MayoClinic: Chocolate: Does it Impair Calcium Absorption?
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Calcium Absorbability from Milk Products, an Imitation Milk and Calcium Carbonate; Robert R. Recker, et al; January 1988
- "Journal of the American Dietetic Association"; Drinking Flavored or Plain Milk Is Positively Associated with Nutrient Intake and Is Not Associated with Adverse Effects on Weight Status in U.S. Children and Adolescents; Mary M. Murphy, et al; April 2008
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