A School Milk Promotion Program Increases Milk Consumption and Improves the Calcium and Vitamin D Intakes of Elementary School Students.

This study evaluated the effect of the Alberta School Milk Program (ASMP) on usual calcium and vitamin D intake among elementary students. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to estimate daily intake of food and supplement sources of calcium and vitamin D. Samples were drawn from schools from Calgary and the surrounding region in Alberta, Canada. Participants in the ASMP and demographically matched non-participants were randomly selected. Parents completed and returned 803 questionnaires of 1350 distributed to students aged six-12 years (59% response rate), 783 questionnaires were analyzed. Students at risk for habitually consuming below government recommendations were identified using Canadian Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI). Data were analyzed to determine what proportion of students met the minimum number of suggested servings of dairy products as recommended in Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance and Chi-square analysis were used to assess the effect of independent variables with estimated food, calcium and vitamin D intake. Participants reported higher intakes of calcium and vitamin D (P<0.05) from dairy sources. Females (10-12 years) were at greatest risk (P<0.05) of not meeting their RNI. Inner city students were at greatest risk (P<0.05) of not meeting minimum recommended number of servings of dairy products. The ASMP effectively increased (P<0.05) consumption of calcium and vitamin D in all age groups through increased (P<0.05) use of dairy products, particularly fluid milk. Milk promotion in the school may be especially beneficial to pre-adolescent females and inner city students who are identified at greatest dietary risk due to low intakes of calcium rich foods.