Levels, sources, and seasonality of dietary calcium intake in children and adolescents enrolled in the University of Saskatchewan Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study

Abstract

An adequate calcium (Ca) intake during the growth period may be critical in maximizing peak bone mass, a determinant of future risk of osteoporosis. Decreases in dietary calcium intakes have been attributed to decreases in dairy consumption so that it is important to know the amount and sources of dietary calcium. To determine the intake and sources of calcium of subjects in the University of Saskatchewan Pediatric Bone Mineral Accrual Study, we analyzed individual food records for sources of calcium using records over six years of the study in 226 subjects aged 8 to 19 years who each provided up to four recalls per year. Recalls with very low or very high reported energy intakes were omitted, leaving 3113 out of 3504 records. Foods were grouped according to Canada=s Food Guide, and subdivided to look at specific food types. Subjects were considered Ayoung© if they were in elementary school, and Aolder© if postelementary (9th grade or beyond). The major food source of calcium in this group of children was from the Milk Products group, contributing 57–63 %. Fluid milk was the single greatest contributor to dietary calcium (39–50 %). Older girls consumed significantly less dietary calcium compared to young girls, however, older boys had significantly greater dietary calcium intakes compared to young boys. Older girls demonstrated a marked decrease in dietary calcium from Milk Products, especially fluid milk, compared with young girls. No significant differences were reported between seasons for either young and older boys for calcium intake or food sources of calcium. Young girls consumed significantly less total dietary calcium and obtained less calcium from fluid milk during the winter compared with the summer. Concerns regarding the adequacy of Ca intakes in North American children should be focused on girls, and in particular older girls, whose declining fluid milk intake may be compromising bone mass accrual.