Milk and dairy products as vehicle for calcium and vitamin D: role of calcium enriched milks

Milk and dairy products are key foods during all stages of life within a balanced Western diet. In recent decades, their consumption has decreased significantly. In parallel, an increase in some pathological alterations caused by the deficit of some micronutrients present in dairy products, mainly calcium and vitamin D, has been detected, resulting in a serious public health problem in certain groups of population. In order to avoid these deficiencies, foods enriched in these components have been launched into the market. Within them, enriched milks and dairy products stand out since they allow better bioavailability of calcium and are natural sources of vitamin D. Several studies have been carried out to demonstrate the benefit of supplementation with calcium and vitamin D enriched milks in vulnerable groups such as older adults and postmenopausal women. Those studies have reported a substantial improvement of bone turnover and an increase of bone density and strength. The aim of the present work is to revise the importance of milk-derived calcium intake on health, and the usefulness of calcium-enriched milks for allowing adequate calcium consumption without dietary modifications in certain groups of population. Likewise, it is intended to clarify the errors and myths that have recently arisen in relation to certain foods that seek to replace milk and dairy product, based on their differences in composition, bioavailability and health effects.