Milk intake and risk of hip fracture in men and women

Milk is a major source of nutrients and is commonly believed to reduce fracture risk through its calcium and vitamin D content. However, the true benefit of milk on hip fracture prevention is not well established. In this study [1], the objective of the authors was to determine whether there is a correlation between milk intake and risk of hip fracture based on a meta-analysis of 7 prospective cohort studies in middle-aged or older men and women.

The results show that, in women aged between 47 and 71 years, daily intake of one glass of milk, corresponding to 300 mg of calcium, fails to significantly decrease the relative risk of hip fracture. In men, the relative risk of hip fracture was decreased to 0.91, but this did not reach statistical significance.

Based on these results, there was no correlation between milk intake and hip fracture risk in women; further studies are required to determine the existence of a possible benefit in men.

1. Bischoff-Ferrari et al. J Bone Miner Res. 2011;26(4):833-839.