Traditionally the answer was yes. Milk's content of calcium was supposed to be a safeguard against bone fractures, but in recent years this claim has ben the object of further research - and of doubt.

The latest study about this comes from Sweden. But the research seems to show that women who drank more than three glasses a day were actually more likely to break bones than those who had less.

The researchers cautioned that their work suggests a trend, and that it shouldn't be interpreted as a proof. A curious inversion of trend is shown about fermented milk. When products such as yoghurt were considered, the opposite pattern was observed, with people who consumed more that showed a lower risk of fractures.