title: Calcium intake: covariates and confounders.
abstract: One common nutrient postulated to be protective against osteoporosis, hypertension, and colon cancer is dietary calcium. We report here nutrient patterns by calcium intake in older adult residents of a geographically defined community in Southern California. The analysis included all 426 men and 531 women aged 50-79 y with complete 24-h diet data. Nutrient-density-adjusted calcium intake was divided into tertiles: low intake (less than 284 mg/1000 kcal), mid intake (284-440 mg/1000 kcal), and high intake (greater than 440 mg/1000 kcal). The distribution of the reported 24-h nutrient density of protein, fat, fiber, caffeine, trace minerals, vitamin D, and vitamin C was examined in relation to the calcium-intake tertiles. In both men and women, the adjusted intakes of protein, saturated fatty acids, vitamin D, magnesium, and phosphorus were significantly higher in the high-calcium-intake group than in the low- and mid-calcium-intake groups. In both men and women, alcohol intake was significantly lower in the high-calcium-intake group. Studies postulating a protective role for calcium will need to consider the multicolinearity in the Western diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0607.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Holbrook
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barrett-Connor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002140:California; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003069:Coffee; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012923:Social Class; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D003069:Coffee; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D014807:Vitamin D; D010758:Phosphorus; D008274:Magnesium; D001205:Ascorbic Acid