Adults should be better educated on the benefits of increased milk consumption as the dietary calcium intake in Asia remains low, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) said on World Milk Day yesterday.
While there has been plenty of advocacy to increase milk consumption among children in the Asia-Pacific region, osteoporosis remains a pressing concern among older people, said Vinod Ahuja, an FAO Policy Officer based in Bangkok.
He said an Asia-Pacific Regional Audit conducted by the International Osteoporosis Foundation concluded the average dietary calcium intake in Asia is well below the FAO-World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation of 1,000-1,300mg per day.
Most Asian countries have seen a two-to-three fold increase in the incidence of hip fractures during the past 30 years, the report showed. Bones can become brittle without enough calcium, of which milk is a rich source.
It has been estimated that one in five women aged 40–80 in Thailand have osteoporosis, Mr Ahuja said.
He said this is a particular concern in the Asia-Pacific region due to its rapidly ageing population. By 2050, nearly one in three people in the region will be above the age of 65, forecasts indicate.
A study of school milk programmes by Mahidol University found that these students consumed more energy, protein and vitamin B12 than a typical Thai diet provides.
Another study by Kasetsart University found that children in the programme were taller than their peers, the FAO said.
"Beyond the obvious health benefits, dairy can also contribute to a nation's prosperity," said Kundhavi Kadiresan, FAO assistant director-general and regional representative, citing the creation of new jobs.
In 2013, the total value of Asian dairy production exceeded US$110 billion and figured in the top three commodities in the region in terms of gross value of production, the FAO said.
Three of the world's top-producing countries -- India, China and Pakistan -- are in Asia, the FAO said.
It said the sector needs to be more sustainable and competitive in the Asia-Pacific region, while smallholder farmers should gain greater access to markets, services and business development.