Recommending calcium to reduce lead toxicity in children: a critical review

Assertions that adequate or supplemental calcium intake can reduce lead absorption in children are based on liberal extrapolation from animal studies, experiments with human adults, and cross-sectional studies of children that have a variety of methodologic weaknesses. Without stronger supporting evidence, statements that diet can ameliorate the deleterious effects of environmental lead could provide a false sense of efficacy and divert efforts from lead abatement and from behavioral modifications that might have more impact.