U.S. Adults Don’t Get Enough Calcium

A study published in the May 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests U.S. adults are not getting adequate dietary amounts of calcium, which increases the risk of osteoporosis in older adults. The findings suggest increasing the frequency and level of calcium supplementation, and increasing consumption of nutrient dense foods may help improve bone health.

Researchers from the University of Connecticut and Yale University examined data from 9,475 adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003-to 2006. Diet was assessed with 24-hour recall and supplement use via questionnaire. Trends in median intakes for dietary calcium, total calcium, and energy across age categories were assessed using survey analysis methods. Nutrient density was represented using calcium to energy intake ratios.

When compared to the 19- to 30-year age group, median dietary calcium intake was lower in the ≥81-year age group by 23% in men (P<0.001) and by 14% in women (P=0.003). These reductions coincided with 35% and 28% decreases, respectively, in median energy intake (P<0.001 for each sex). In contrast, the frequency of calcium supplement use increased (P<0.001) with age in both men and women. Yet, among female supplement users, the decline in median dietary calcium intake was greater than in nonusers (P=0.02). Calcium density in the diet significantly increased relative to age in men and women (P<0.001 for each sex); however, dietary and total calcium to energy ratios were insufficient to meet target ratios inferred by adequate intake standards after age 50 years.

"Calcium plays a fundamental role in promoting bone health and forestalling osteoporosis. In light of evidence that energy intake declines with aging, calcium dense foods and calcium supplements become vital factors in maintaining adequate calcium intake across the lifespan," said Jane E. Kerstetter, RD, PhD, Professor, Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut. "Encouraging calcium supplementation is an established approach to addressing this issue in the clinical setting—one that needs additional emphasis in order to promote more frequent and sufficient supplementation in meeting adequate intake levels. Altering the concentration of calcium in the diet relative to energy by increasing consumption of nutrient dense foods is a new and important concept that also deserves additional consideration as a component of osteoporosis prevention efforts."

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EurekAlert: Americans still may not be getting enough calcium