ABSTRACT
Objective Optimal bone mass in early adulthood is achieved
through appropriate diet and lifestyle, thereby protecting
against osteoporosis and risk of bone fracture in later life.
Calcium and vitamin D are essential to build adequate
bones, but calcium intakes of many population groups do
not meet dietary reference values. In addition, changes in
dietary patterns are exacerbating the problem, thereby
emphasizing the important role of calcium-rich food products.
We have designed a calcium-fortified ice cream formulation
that is lower in fat than regular ice cream and
could provide a useful source of additional dietary calcium.
Calcium absorption from two different ice cream
formulations was determined in young adults and compared
with milk.
Subjects/setting Sixteen healthy volunteers (25 to 45 years
of age), recruited from the general public of The Netherlands,
participated in a randomized, reference-controlled,
double-blind cross-over study in which two test products
and milk were consumed with a light standard breakfast
on three separate occasions: a standard portion of ice
cream (60 g) fortified with milk minerals and containing