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A new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that children who drink flavored or plain milk consume more nutrients and have a lower or comparable body mass index (BMI – a measure of body fatness) than non-milk drinkers. The study compared nutrient intakes and BMIs for approximately 7,500 children ages 2–18 who drink flavored milk (with or without plain milk); exclusively plain milk; and no milk at all. All the comparisons were adjusted for the calories reported and children's ages so that differences could be compared.

• Both plain and flavored milk drinkers had significantly higher intakes of vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium than non–milk drinkers. In addition, BMIs of milk drinkers were comparable to or lower than the BMIs of non-milk drinkers.
• The amount of added sugars consumed did not differ between flavored milk drinkers and non-milk drinkers.
• The average calcium intake by "flavored milk drinkers" and "exclusively plain milk drinkers" was nearly double that of non–milk drinkers among 12–18 year–old girls.

Rachel Johnson, PhD, MPH, RD, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Professor of Nutrition at the University of Vermont and co–author of the study noted, "Intakes of added sugars were comparable between flavored milk drinkers and non–milk drinkers confirming that the inclusion of flavored milk in the diet does not lead to significantly higher added sugar intakes by children and adolescents."

Download Study Overview.

Murphy MM, Douglass JS, Johnson RK, Spence LA. Drinking flavored or plain milk is positively associated with nutrient intake and is not associated with adverse effects on weight status in US children and adolescents. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2008, 108:631-639.