DaveFoster
Member
Of course calcium isn't the only factor, but that sounds like China study logic; just because French people use butter, and they're not fat doesn't mean anything one way or another.I'm pretty certain countries that favor substantial dairy intake over countries that don't are going to be consuming higher amounts of calcium. The only other decent source is bone-in fish. Greens would need to be eaten in substantial amounts to equal dairy calcium intake. Bone broth in fact contains very little calcium. It's pretty well established that some of the countries with the highest dairy consumption have the highest osteoporosis. That in itself doesn't mean dairy is to blame, but something is clearly very wrong with these diets, and low osteoporosis rates can be found with lower calcium consumption, meaning other factors are probably more important that total calcium intake (hormones, vitamin k2, magnesium, antinutrients, etc). Considering the problems excessive calcium intake can cause, I'd rather focus on the other factors, which I think are more likely the problem.
There's issues with the casein protein (A1 vs A2); there's issues with the estrogen in the milkfat (which probably harms bones contrary to popular opinion); there's a dozen other metabolic factors that apply to most developed nations (pollution, prescription drug use, water fluoridation, mineral depletion, PUFA intake, lack of activity or excessive cardiovascular exercise, psychological stress, aging populations).
Almost all calcium studies show positive effects on bone, so if you want to argue against dairy, then that's another story, but calcium is generally protective.