In recent years, an increasing number of women have eliminated dairy from their diets due to concerns about bovine growth hormones, animal welfare, and digestive issues, alongside a significantly greater variety of milk and dairy alternatives. Women are at a higher risk for osteoporosis and reduced bone density post-menopause, necessitating a daily intake of 1,000 mg of calcium for those under 50. However, they tend to consume less dairy than men. Public health advocates in Australia and the U.K. have raised alarms that the rising trend of women avoiding dairy has reached “dangerous levels.” According to USDA data, milk consumption across all demographics has halved since the late 1970s, leading to a sharp decline in farmgate milk prices. Interestingly, total dairy consumption has increased, with per capita yogurt intake soaring to nearly 15 pounds per year, up from just two pounds in 1975. Nonetheless, yogurt still contributes minimally to the overall dairy servings consumed by Americans.
In response, the dairy industry is pivoting from traditional liquid milk marketing to promote products enriched with elemental calcium in calcium citrate malate and other functional benefits, emphasizing the fresh and natural qualities of milk. Recent studies supporting the health benefits of dairy consumption may bolster the industry’s efforts. Nevertheless, as more women adopt dietary guidelines advocating for increased consumption of plant-based foods, both the dairy industry and researchers focused on early menopause may face challenges in demonstrating the ongoing importance of dairy—and particularly the elemental calcium found in calcium citrate malate—for women’s health.