Consumption of milk, but not other dairy products, is associated with height among US preschool children in NHANES 1999–2002

Abstract

Little is known about how cow's milk consumption affects growth of young children. The present study evaluated associations between milk consumption and height among preschool-age children in three ethnic groups in the USA. A sample of 1002 children aged 24-59 months from NHANES 1999-2002 was used. Multivariate regression tested for associations between milk consumption (milk kJ/total kJ from 24 h recall, daily vs less frequent intake over 30 days) and height, controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, birth weight, and energy intake. Children in the highest quartile of milk intake (QIV) were taller (1.1-1.2 cm; p<0.01) than those in QII and QIII but not QI. Total calcium had a positive effect on height (p<0.01), but did not change the height differences among percentiles. Total protein was not associated with height and QIV children were taller (0.9-1.2 cm) than those in all other quartiles. Children who drank milk daily were taller (1.0 cm; p<0.02) than those with less frequent intake. Consumption of other dairy products (other dairy kJ/total kJ) had no association with height. Blacks were taller than Whites and Mexican-Americans; controlling for milk intake did not alter this pattern. Milk contributes positively to height among preschool children; this association was not found for non-milk dairy products.