5. Conclusions
height gain
In conclusion, the study demonstrates that supplementing 60g/d of formula milk powder with fortified calcium and VD over 6 and 12 months enhances bone mass acquisition at the left forearm in Chinese preschool children. The marginal increase of the height gain during the 3–9 months of milk intervention needed further replication in long-term intervention studies. The increase in 25(OH)D and IGF-1 and the decrease in PTH may support (at least in part) the beneficial changes in bone acquisition. Our findings highlight the importance of adequate milk consumption in young children in a rural region in China.