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Calcium intakes and food sources of the U.S. population and the role of calcium fortification: results from NHANES 1999‐02
Author(s) -
Albertson Ann M.,
Norton M
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a620-b
Subject(s) - fortification , calcium , fortified food , population , food fortification , food science , environmental health , chemistry , medicine
Calcium intakes for most population groups in the U.S. have been declining over the past 20 years and only a small percentage of the population meet their Adequate Intake (AI) level. Calcium consumption and food sources were examined utilizing NHANES 1999‐02, 24‐hour dietary recall. Data were analyzed using SUDAAN software. The mean daily calcium intake ranged from 695 mg/day for older females to 1138 mg/day for teen males. Less than one‐third of the total population was above their AI for calcium. This percentage ranged from 66% for children 2–5 years to 12% for females 51+ years. Estimates were not adjusted for within‐individual variation. Foods consumed at home contributed over two‐thirds of total daily calcium. The calcium contributions from breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks were 24%, 22%, 31% and 21%, respectively. Overall in the diet, the leading sources of dietary calcium were milk and milk products (26%), cheese (12%), and grain products and grain‐based mixtures (28%). Calcium fortified cereal contributed approximately 2% of total daily calcium and when the contribution of milk consumed with cereal was considered, the calcium contribution increased to 8% of total population intake, on average. For the individuals consuming a fortified cereal with milk, over one‐third of total daily calcium was from the cereal and milk combination and this group had significantly higher mean daily calcium intakes than individuals not consuming cereal.