2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): 1) Determine if the consumption of 4 servings of milk/yogurt per day improves status of P, Mg, K, and Zn. 2) Determine the contribution of Mg, Zn, P, and K, using statistical models, to bone metabolism. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): Human intervention study with 22 postmenopausal women in a cross-over design. Interventions include: milk and yogurt vs. calcium and vitamin D supplements. 24-hr. urine samples will be collected at specified times. Diet records will be used to record food intake weekly during the intervention periods and analyzed for nutrient intake above that of the intervention treatment. Urine will be analyzed for bone enhancing nutrients, e.g. Mg, P, K, Zn, and B-12. Documents Trust agreement with the California Dairy Research Foundation. Log 44217. 3.Progress Report: The goal of this agreement was to conduct a human intervention clinical study to examine the effect of calcium rich foods vs. supplements on bone metabolism in women. This project directly contributes to objective 1a of the in-house project. ARS scientists have enrolled 13 women in a dietary intervention protocol; 10 have completed the study to date. Urine samples from the first 10 enrolled participants have been processed for analysis of urinary mineral excretion (Mg, P. K etc.) and inductively coupled emission spectroscopy has been completed on urines samples for the first 10 women. Dietary records for food intake have also been inputted into the Nutrition Database for Science Research (NDSR) for analysis of other bone enhancing nutrients.