Calcium intake among different college-student populations

Abstract

Previous surveys showed that women fall short of the recommended level for calcium (Ca) consumption, particularly female college students. The aims of the study were to compare dietary calcium (Ca) intake and its sources, as well as multivitamin/mineral supplement use between African American and Caucasian American female students with a nutrition/ health background and African American and Croatian female general student-populations. Additionally, we examined the relationship between Ca intake and weight/BMI within each population. Participants - volunteers (N=314, age 18–37 yr) completed a validated food frequency questionnaire, assessing their usual Ca intake and supplements ; 57 African Americans and 54 Caucasian Americans recruited from Nutrition and/or other Health Sciences departments (NHS), and 100 African American and 103 Croatian women representing the general student population (GSP). 63% of the African American and 57% of the Caucasian American NHS participants met or exceeded the recommended Ca intake (DRI 1000 mg/day), while only 24% of the African American and 30% of the Croatian GSP participants met or exceeded this Ca requirement. Results showed thar African American and Caucasian NHS populations consumed significantly more Ca, specifically as dairy Ca, and were more likely to take supplements than either GSP group, suggesting that nutrition/ health education can negate various other influences known to affect Ca intake.