Primary prevention of osteoporosis is to build maximum bone density during childhood and adolescence. Bone growth is influenced by the amount of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins, especially vitamin D are involved in the absorption of calcium. Another factor is hormone balance.
Calcium is the major mineral-forming bone. Minerals also regulate contraction and relaxation of muscles, are involved in nerve transmission, helps blood clotting, and regulate the body’s hormones and growth factors. Total calcium of about 2 percent of body weight. Amounting to 99 percent is stored in bones and 1 percent in body fluids.
When there is a shortage of calcium, the body will take it from the bones. Standardization Development Section Head Food Consumption Community Nutrition Directorate of the Ministry of Health, said that the amount of nutrient adequacy established the Ministry of Health for children aged 7-9 years is 600 mg of calcium per day and for children aged 10-12 years increased to 1000 mg per day. It needs more than doubled compared with the age of 4-6 years, ie 500 mg of calcium per day.
The problem, he says, one nutritional problem in school-age children is a deficiency of certain substances, including calcium. When entering the age of six, children begin to show its ability to determine the choice of food and seeing the many food choices outside the home. Children are not easy to start again arranged. Milk is rarely consumed.
Absorption of calcium is also a problem when there is deficiency of various other substances. As an example, deficiency of vitamin D in active form can affect the absorption of calcium. Oxalic acid and phytic acid can also inhibit calcium absorption. Excessive protein consumption also causes calcium easily excreted through urine. Once the physical and mental stress also reduces the absorption of minerals.
In order to improve bone health, activities of the child’s body must also be considered. Unfortunately, children are also increasingly limited movement, especially in big cities. More child activities within the home and less active. In fact, exercise influence on bone development.
Some exercises to strengthen the bones of the simplest is walking, jogging, climbing stairs, and jump rope. Sports games, like tennis, basketball, soccer, and volleyball, is also good for the bones. Exercises about 30 minutes long with a frequency of more than three times in one week. For children, exercise habits that can be customized with child’s play.